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deebris · 1 day

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The Mysterious Visitor III

Batfamily x batsis (platonic!)

Synopsis: Bruce begins to suspect that Damian is hiding something after the two of you finally see each other, and the father-son trust between them is shaken. Tim finally sees your face, and something strange happens. The meeting between siblings was not successful, and to their dismay, Bruce will need to confront Talia face to face once again.

Warnings: The reader is 13 years old and is Damian's twin sister; the tone of the story is somewhat sad; Bruce is intimidating; Hugo Strange mentioned; family discussion; maternal overprotection.

Word count: 3.6k

Note: I'm sincerely sorry if I didn't include someone on the tag list or if I made any mistakes. This part took longer because it's a bit longer.

Part I Part II Part III

"Forgive me for not offering anything sooner, miss," Alfred said, watching you carefully pick up the hot chocolate he had given to you. He found it curious how you ignored the handle of the mug, instead holding it with both hands, making sure wouldn't spill it.

You diverted your eyes from the brown liquid and looked at the old butler, now knowing his name, licking your lips after the sip to clear the excess drink. "It's okay," you responded, unaware of the chocolate mustache that had formed.

Bruce, still in the room, watched the scene from the side while patiently awaiting Damian. He traced circles with his index finger on the rim of the whiskey glass he had poured for himself, trying to keep control of how much he drank. Bruce would never admit it, but he needed to calm down, and perhaps a bit of moderate alcohol might help. He knew it wasn't appropriate to drink in front of someone as young as you, but he couldn't stop himself.

He was caught looking at you with a suspicious gaze that didn't waver. The room was filled with a palpable discomfort, and you, embarrassed, went back to staring at your own drink again, focused on listening to the crackling of the fireplace.

"Here, take this," Alfred said gently, extending a napkin from the tray. You accepted it and wiped around your mouth, finally realizing you'd made a mess.

Your mother would have scolded you for your lack of manners, you thought to yourself. And, for the thousandth time that night, you worried about how she would react to discovering you weren't in your bed. Maybe she had already noticed and was preparing a furious speech along with your punishment.

"What are you thinking about, dear?" Alfred asked, noticing your quietness as you rested the hot chocolate mug in your lap and started staring into nothing.

You snapped out of your stupor upon hearing the question, fiddling with one of the charms on your bracelet, the "T" specifically, Bruce couldn't help but notice. His mind was in turmoil, much like yours, with a thousand different thoughts arising every second. He felt strangely betrayed, questioning how much more his son hadn't told him—important things like the fact that he had a sister.

"I was just thinking that..." you trailed off, swallowing hard as the nervousness grew. Letting out a shaky sigh and with visible tears forming in your eyes, you continued, "My mom's going to be mad at me."

"And are you afraid of your mother?" Alfred insisted, trying to sound gentle upon seeing your distress.

"It's not quite that," you replied, trying to ease the situation so he wouldn't jump to conclusions.

You weren't exactly afraid of her, but you knew that rummaging through your mother's belongings, stealing a letter, and sneaking out in the middle of the night would disappoint her. You worried about her reaction and, above all, about Damian's reaction. If he was still the same, he certainly wouldn't be happy with the circumstances.

You tried to calm yourself, convincing yourself that you had the right to be angry for the first time in your life, not them, even knowing that your family would see you differently. It was as if you were perpetually a five-year-old in their eyes, always needing to hear lectures about every dangerous step you took.

Even though you and your brother were the same age, he was more responsible, smarter, stronger, destined to be a leader. And it annoyed you so much, but no matter what you said, your mother wouldn't change her mind about your upbringing.

When Damian left, Talia had said he would spend some time in a different place to learn new things and improve himself. For the first few weeks, it was even liberating not having him on your neck all the time, but then you realized it was because of him that you could do simple things like take a walk around the neighborhood alone.

Without Damian at home, your mother had no one to contradict her decisions, and her constant protection began to suffocate you. Then came the longing, and what was supposed to be a few months turned into years, and you never saw him again. You never stopped thinking about him. Every day, every birthday, and every Christmas, you would wait near the entrance of your apartment before going to bed, hoping that he would open the door again.

"Where is your mother?" Bruce suddenly interrupted, feeling Alfred's cautious gaze on him. You hesitated to answer, after all, although Mr. Wayne was a very popular man with a good image, you didn't know him. "I don't intend to harm you, but I need to know to take you back home," he justified, looking directly at your face, but Alfred knew this was Bruce's way of telling him that he wasn't interested in Talia, but rather in ensuring your safety.

"I'm not dumb, I know how to get home by myself," you tried to defend yourself. And though the words might sound arrogant, you said it calmly, not wanting to offend him.

"The point is not that. This is Gotham City, you shouldn't have gone out alone in the middle of the night." Bruce tried to reason with you, and it seemed to have worked because you fell silent.

"You need to trust us, miss," Alfred tried to encourage you to respond, but you remained silent. Bruce turned the glass to take a big sip of his drink and both gave up, not wanting to pressure you further.

The following minutes were silent, interrupted only by the sound of you drinking the hot chocolate in a few sips. Unexpectedly, Titus, Damian's German Shepherd, seemed to have taken a liking to you. He entered the room from the kitchen and stopped by your side to smell the new scent in the house. The relatively gentle dog sniffed around you, appreciating the head pats he received while you were enchanted by the furry animal.

Bruce couldn't help but compare you to his son since he began to analyze you. Damian had his mother's cunning personality and an arrogance that Bruce couldn't deny he had too, but it was more pronounced in Talia. He clearly remembered the first meeting with Damian. The first thing the boy did was make a ridiculous joke about his height, and he never seemed shy when meeting Bruce or the other boys. Also, when he arrived at the mansion, he felt comfortable analyzing every tiny detail of the house, unconcerned if his opinions were unpleasant.

You, on the other hand, although in different circumstances, limited yourself to a small space on the couch, responding only when asked and gladly accepting the kindness of Dick and Alfred. Bruce wondered how Talia could have raised a daughter like you. She and her sister, Nyssa, were sharp women, trained to be natural-born assassins, despite having a traditional father like Ra's. It was hard to believe that you, an apparently ordinary and shy girl, could be her daughter.

"Do you like dogs?" Bruce asked, deciding to stop being grumpy.

"I do, but I think I prefer cats." You continued to stroke Titus's cheeks, who began to want to climb onto your lap. Unfortunately, he was too heavy, and you had to push him back to the floor. The animal seemed to interpret that as a game because he kept trying to climb several times. "Mom gave me one for Christmas last year."

"Titus." Bruce's voice caught the dog's attention, patting his right thigh, calling him to sit on his lap. His gesture, although meant to stop the animal from bothering you, made you a little disappointed that you couldn't pet his soft fur anymore.

"What a coincidence. It seems you and Damian share something in common." Alfred was smiling while talking to you, which was rare for him. "Last Christmas, he also brought us two stray cats. The black one lives with us, but unfortunately, I don't know what happened to the other one. Curiously, the cat has my name." The butler tried to make a face at you, pretending to be unhappy. A Cheshire smile spread across your face, followed by the most contagious laugh he had ever heard, and he couldn't help but widen his own smile.

"The cat's name is Alfred?" You asked incredulously, seeing him nod positively. "Mine is an orange cat. He's cute but very troublesome; he even scratched one of my ballet shoes." You commented, much more at ease in Mr. Wayne's presence.

"An orange kitten?" Bruce's eyes widened slightly, just like Alfred's.

An orange and a black cat, both mentioned on the same date. Your seemingly trivial confession revealed to both of them that Damian had indeed kept in touch with you. Perhaps not directly, but it showed that he hadn't forgotten your existence and cared enough to have given the other cat to his sister as a gift. Now, because of you, they both finally knew what had happened to the other furball.

"Your brother also raises a cow here on the property." The butler thought it would be of interest to mention the funny fact, given that Damian was too irritable to raise something like a cow. And it seemed to have worked, as you laughed with genuine surprise in your eyes.

Bruce couldn't help but let out a muffled laugh when reminded of the cow, and unlike how he had been so suspicious of you moments ago, he was now more relaxed. He wondered when was the last time he saw Alfred so cheerful with someone new here at the mansion. The butler was a man full of tenderness for the family, but he was difficult to deal with for outsiders, although he always presented himself in a polite manner.

But the pleasant moment was suddenly interrupted by a series of voices coming from the top of the stairs, making Bruce and Alfred frown. Both stood up to see better what was happening and saw Damian pushing and shouting at his three brothers while struggling to descend the steps without being hindered by them.

Jason saw that Bruce and Alfred had already noticed them, failing to prevent the boy from confronting you three, and let go of his arm. Dick and Tim followed suit, defeated. The events of the night were revealed to him by his brothers, who told him everything from you being here to the fact that you had had some sort of contact with Strange. Damian went berserk at the last part and stormed out of the room in a flash.

Seeing his son in the Robin uniform, Bruce thought of reprimanding him, knowing he had gone on patrol alone again, but decided that was a matter for later.

"Damian," Bruce called out, calming him down a bit from his excitement. "We have a visitor." There was no view of the stairs from the living room, so you couldn't grasp that Bruce was calling Robin by your brother's name.

Damian descended the steps slowly, as if it were a very difficult task for him, and then finally looked at you, then at Bruce, and back at you, completely ignoring anyone else. He took a deep breath, trying to process the situation. Dick had told him that his father didn't know anything about you being his daughter, but he was sure this secret wouldn't last much longer. And honestly, he preferred that both of you knew the truth, even knowing that his mother wouldn't be happy.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice.

You slowly got up from the couch, gripping the hot chocolate mug tightly. The truth was, Damian hadn't realized he was still dressed as Robin, and that's why you didn't recognize him. You stood there, paralyzed, not understanding why he was in Bruce Wayne's house, and why would he talk to you? Or maybe this was some kind of joke, and you still hadn't figured it out.

Damian was silent for a moment, his expression serious. "You were supposed to stay with Mom. It's not safe for you here."

"Master Damian," Alfred spoke, signaling to the mask on his face. Damian quickly tore it off, feeling stupid for forgetting about it.

You almost let the mug slip when you saw him. Your brother had grown a lot since he was ten. His face was thinner, more defined, and his eyes smaller, plus his voice was deeper. That's why you didn't recognize him at first. Before, you would have known who he was just by the sound of his voice, but it wasn't the same anymore.

You were happy and surprised at the same time. That moment was shocking, and the bitterness you felt a while ago was forgotten. Your anger at discovering Damian ignored you for two years for the people in this house didn't cross your mind now, too busy trying to memorize each of his new features. The superhero world wasn't new, after all, but how could your brother be Robin? And if he was Robin, did he know Batman?

"I wanted to see you," you replied, your voice trembling. "I missed you."

Damian sighed, approaching. He wanted to argue but fought against it, knowing the last thing he should do was yell at you after so long. "I missed you too, but you shouldn't be here, S/n. Things are complicated here." He responded tensely, calculating his words and trying to find a way to get you away from Bruce as quickly as possible before something slipped.

Bruce watched your interaction, unsure of what to do. He didn't understand the depth of your relationship, wondering if he should intervene or let you talk alone. It seemed too personal to discuss in front of so many eyes.

In a brief exchange of glances with Dick, in a kind of silent conversation, Bruce signaled for him and the others to leave.

Understanding as always, Dick nodded, indicating they should leave but not before approaching Bruce with something. "Bruce, promise me you'll only read this card when you're in a clearer state of mind," he asked in a whisper, placing a piece of paper in Bruce's hand, careful to put the written part facing his palm. Dick rarely asked for promises, so Bruce reluctantly agreed.

"Can you at least tell me what it is?"

"It's a clue about Hugo Strange," was the simplest response he could give. "But let's leave that for another time," Dick emphasized, looking at you and Damian, who, to their surprise, were watching them.

"Let's go. This is no longer our business," Dick tried to pull Jason and Tim along, but Tim was stubborn:

"Did you give it to him?" Tim said just loud enough for Dick to hear.

"Yes, Tim," he replied, not wanting to give him more room to argue, going up the stairs two steps at a time, followed by Jason who climbed more calmly, holding onto the railing. Tim gave one last look at Bruce, then at Damian, Alfred, and then you, who was now watching the three. You already knew Dick, but the other two figures aroused your curiosity. How many more people live in the mansion?

The boy you didn't know was called Tim started staring at you with an intrigued expression. He hadn't managed to see your face closely before, but now, looking calmly, he couldn't avoid noticing how familiar you seemed. He felt he had seen you somewhere, but where? You examined him with the same perplexity, and for a moment he parted his lips to say something, maybe to ask if he knew you, but Bruce's voice made him jump:

"Tim, you should go to bed, just like your brothers." He asked in a gentle tone.

"Sorry, Bruce." He responded quickly, going up the stairs in same style as Jason.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?" Damian took advantage of the fact that the three had left and angrily threw it in your face, but trying to disguise it at all costs to avoid sounding too harsh. His eyes were frantic, looking at every part of your face.

He wasn't sentimental, and he refused to go through the humiliation of showing any weakness at seeing your grown-up figure, even if it caused him heartache. "Why did you disappear like that? Mom's been worried for hours."

"I already told you. I wanted to see you." Your voice rose a bit, desperately trying to justify yourself. You wanted so much to hug him but felt too embarrassed to do so, finally realizing that the intimacy you had before no longer existed. It was as if he were a stranger.

"Let's go. I'll take you back." He grabbed your wrist, wanting to disappear from his father's sight at all costs, but you pulled away, surprising him.

"Why are you so eager to get rid of me?" You asked indignantly, trying to swallow the sob due to your wounded pride. The warmth in your heart rose to your head, finally feeling that old anger again. "I haven't seen you in years, and the first thing you do is want to keep me away again!" You were distressed, feeling rejected.

"Maybe it's because you only cause problems!" He exploded.

"I had forgotten how irritating you are!" You shouted at the top of your lungs, trying to push him back as you did in childhood arguments. Back then, you two were equal in strength, but now Damian was becoming a man, and he barely moved.

You didn't notice when you dropped the mug on the floor, which luckily didn't break as the impact was cushioned by the rug. But the little liquid left had spilled and stained it, and seeing Alfred pick it up to clean made you feel awful. You should have done it, but he stopped you when you made a move to bend down, saying it was okay. Alfred felt he shouldn't participate in this conversation and used the mug situation as an excuse to go to the kitchen.

"Stop." Bruce intervened between you two, separating both and giving his son a challenging look. He knew this kind of attitude was typical of him, but seeing how loyal and obedient Damian was to Talia, he thought he would at least show some sympathy to his sister. "S/n, why don't you go sleep a bit? It's late, it would be good to rest." He offered as a truce and also as a way to interrupt your meeting, seeing how bad it was going.

"Do you realize the danger she got into? Talking to strangers, no less." Damian spoke again, his voice dangerously calm, ignoring Bruce. "Do you have any idea who that guy was, S/n? Do you have any idea?!" His voice began to rise a few octaves.

A solitary tear rolled down your cheek, recalling the man who had helped you on the street. At that moment, he seemed like a good person, but the way your brother was talking, apparently he wasn't. "How many times do we need to tell you not to talk to strangers? Not to leave the house without telling anyone? It's always been like this since we were kids, you never change!"

You had no reaction. That single tear had turned into two, then into several others, as you shrank into your own shame. You felt ridiculous for coming here because of him.

"Damian, who are you talking about?" Bruce held him by the shoulders to stop him from continuing to spew anger at you. His voice was much deeper than the boy's, and although it didn't intimidate him, it was enough to make him look at him at least.

"Hugo Strange, Dad! Damn Hugo Strange!" Damian lost control of his own mouth, speaking without thinking and not realizing the slip he had just made. "Because she's too stupid to have the slightest notion about anything!"

"Hugo Strange?" Mr. Wayne asked out loud. You knew exactly who Strange was, just as you knew other villains, although you might not recognize them by appearance. But that didn't matter to you now, as you spoke right after:

"Why did you call him Dad?" You looked your brother in the eyes, expecting some kind of explanation, not noticing how his body hairs stood on end.

Suddenly, a realization hit you. This was his new family now, and this man was his father. That venomous jealousy returned once more, and you didn't know if it was because Damian now had someone to call 'Dad' or because it meant how close he had become to these people. Damian swallowed hard, sweating and standing still like a statue.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne. I didn't mean to cause trouble." You apologized, deciding to completely ignore Damian from now on.

"No need to apologize." Bruce felt uneasy, and like you, he drew a wrong interpretation from it. He thought Damian hadn't told his sister who his real father was, which was possible considering he also hadn't told her he moved in with him. The fact that you two were twins was also still unknown to Bruce. The most logical idea, though not spoken or thought, was that you were Talia's daughter with another man. "I'll ask Alfred to show you a room."

You looked one last time at Damian before disappearing into some wing of the mansion. It hurt to see him watching you leave without even saying goodbye. A 'good night' would have been hopeful, even though you hated him now.

"Come, miss." You felt Alfred's hands on your back, guiding you. "I'll show you the guest room," he explained, and you looked back, seeing Bruce watching the two of you.

"Thank you, Mr. Wayne," you said, trying to sound as grateful as possible, while wrapping one arm around Alfred's waist affectionately. Bruce gave you a slight smile, uncrossing his arms to wave goodbye, which you returned with your free hand.

"You and I now have a lot to talk about." Bruce's aura had become cold again. The trust he had built with Damian wasn't broken, but it definitely had a crack.

"Mom is coming," he said in a low voice "I called her as soon as Dick started told me everything," he confessed, knowing Bruce would be furious, watching him run a hand through his hair to relieve the tension.

Following his example, Damian also sat in one of the armchairs in the room, analyzing his father's movements. Whenever Talia and Bruce were in the same room, even if they didn't do it openly, they fought for some kind of dominance.

Bruce made a move to take out the card Dick had given him to see its contents and maybe pass the time while the second storm of the night was yet to come. The first had been you, of course. He ran his fingers along one of the edges of the card, without taking it completely out of his pocket, and then remembered his son's words:

'Promise me you'll only read this card when you're in a moment of clarity.'

The last thing Bruce had now was clarity. So he sighed heavily and pushed it back into his pocket, staring at the boy beside him. "Why do I feel like your sister should be a secret, Damian?"

Tag list:

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@rafa-the-beautiful @shehrazadekey @fairuzwhat @bedeater @arianapjs

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@notahappystan @nebuluma

Credits for the divider: @cafekitsune

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sjylouvre · 2 days

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late night date at home (sjy)

bf!jaeyun x fem!reader

wc: 0.5k

comments, likes and reposts are appreciated!

lying on your bed, that's what you do every day. tonight you were especially bored as your boyfriend jaeyun was at a family dinner, which meant he wasn't really available to you physically but was available to you by message. he would never let you be 100% bored, he would always be there for you no matter what. that's what you love about him. "i really miss you jaeyun." he'd reply to your message straight away, because he himself would’ve wanted to be by your side from the start. "if you only knew how much i miss you too, i'd do anything to be by your side right now." this message makes your heart ache a little, so you pout at it. you sigh a bit, look at the clock and see that it's 8pm. you put your phone down beside you and curl up, closing your eyes. your eyelids gradually become heavy when you hear the doorbell ring. you weren't expecting anyone. you frown and decide to go downstairs and open the door. you open the door and freeze, your heart starting to beat. jaeyun...? immediately, he throws himself into my arms and strokes your back. i can't do it without you my love, not even a single second. my eyes start to fill with tears, he really is an incredible boyfriend. and... and the family dinner? he pulled away from me and rest his hands on both of your cheeks, looking at you straight in the eyes. i left them, i told them it was an emergency, they don't need to know after all, you're the first person i care about. he kissed my forehead and took me back in his arms. i love you so much jaeyun. resting my head in his neck.

a few hours later, you both are on the sofa, watching a movie, arms around each other, under a little blanket. it would be a lie to say that you're focusing on the film when you've been teasing each other for hours. between the tickling and the kisses here and there, at this point there's no stopping you. jaeyun please, let's just watch the movie, i can't breath from you tickling me. jaeyun pouts when he hears you say that, all he wants is to spend time with you. you've been doing that for hours, but he doesn't want to miss a single moment. he holds your cheek with his hand and kisses you. it's a good thing I came here, I couldn't stop thinking about you for a second during the family dinner. I nod and smile at his words. I'm so lucky to have you in my life, if you only knew how often I'm afraid of losing you for no real reason. After these words, I gradually become emotional. jaeyun pulls you on his lap, then takes you in his arms. he strokes your back very gently so as not to rush you. nothing will separate us, not even a wave of light, sweetheart, all right? nothing and no-one can separate us, I won't tolerate it. you hug him tightly and places your head at the hollow of his neck. i love you so much. after these words from him, he tucks a lock of hair behind your ear and kisses your shoulder at his disposal. i love you so much jaeyun. to the moon and back.

notes: hey! my first real post? i'm testing out ideas, i'd love to have some opinions... also, im taking requests if any of yall want me to write your ideas!! kisses!!! <3

btw, huge shoutout to @jakesangel for inspiring me, and encourage me to write, it means a lot, she’s amazing!!

#jake soft hours #sim jaeyun fluff #sim jake fluff #jaeyun fluff #jake x y/n #jake sim x reader #jake fluff #jake x reader #enhypen jake fluff #jaeyun imagines #jake sim x y/n #reader x sim jake #enha fluff #enhypen fluff #jake enhypen #imagine #soft #writing #sjylouvre

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megalony · 14 hours

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A Family Gathering- Part 2

Thank you all for the amazing feedback on my Eddie Diaz imagine, I hope you will all like this next part.

Let me know what you think.

Taglist: @justagirlthatlovedtoread @musicistheway @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @luula @missdreamofendless @bradleybeachbabe @woderfulkawaii @amberpanda99 @daggersquadphantom @marvel-and-chicago-fan @angryknightstatesmantrash @minjix @lyjen @kmc1989 @itsmytimetoodream @noonenuts @hiireadstuff @ashie-babie @classyunknownlover @jayyeahthatsme @sp1ritssz @dumb-fawkin-bitch @oliverstarksbae @gimatida @heart-35 @supernaturalstilinski @stefansalvatoresgf @kyky9103 @wutheringhearts2275 @gay4hotmilfs @itshamleth @chaoticnosleepinfluencer @gs29 @wh0reforsmutstuff @mel-vaz @natashamea18 @chrisevansdaughter @alexandra8484 @deena-beena-weena @targaryenluvs @shelbygeek @kpoplover-19 @marvelmenarebeautiful @gillybear17

@zoeybennett @mrspeacem1nusone @zephyrmonkey @estella-novella @eleventhdoctorsangel @kniselle @senjoritanana

@shauna-carsley @dottierose @cfdhouse51 @darkfemme1 @rainechase45 @ml572 @jessie-lynn28 @lolalolsstuff @jupiter1700 @ashdoctor @an-aliens-ghost @lunaroserites @houseoftwistedspirits

Eddie Diaz Masterlist

Part 1

Summary: (Y/n) and Eddie are close to their due date with their twins. But when they go to a family meal with her siblings and parents, it doesn't go as planned and family secrets are revealed.

(Reader is Buck and Maddie's sister)

Enjoy.

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(Y/n) clenched her hand around her brother's bicep and gave a sharp tug to try and get him to listen to her words. "Take me home." She gave his arm a little shake like she was trying to make her words sink in.

"Okay, okay just take a minute-"

"Home." Her nails scratched into his skin while she pulled on his arm when she tried to move.

She wasn't staying here any longer. She wasn't staying in that apartment or standing out here in the hallway. She was going home to be with the family she chose. She was going home to get away from the family that hurt her and her brother.

Tears continued to drench her face and her lips kept curling and pulling down into a broken frown, desperate to continue crying. Her chest was quaking with sobs she was holding in, desperate to release but she couldn't. Not here. Not now and risk Maddie or their parents coming out and try to stop them all from leaving.

Her body twisted to the right and she let her shoulder slump against the wall, closing her eyes to draw in a deep breath in an attempt to settle her system again. She let her weight shuffle against the wall and did her best to move forward until Eddie was suddenly stood in front of her, blocking her path while his hands found her hips.

"Baby, stop. Just for a minute, please." Eddie's fingers pressed into her hips like he was trying to mould her out of clay and make an imprint of his hands on her body forever.

He helped her lean up off the wall and he didn't say anything when she gripped his forearms and pushed some of her weight onto him. He kept her upright while she felt Buck hovering behind her with his hand on her shoulder and his eyes rapidly looking between the couple, waiting for answers.

"Take a breath," His voice softened and one hand moved up to swipe his thumb across her chin while his head tilted down so they were level and looking at one another.

(Y/n) nodded, gripping his arms tighter as she leaned into his touch and tried to copy his breathing. Panicking and getting worked up wasn't going to do them any favours right now. But she just wanted to leave. She wanted to be as far away from her parents as possible. She wanted to be somewhere that she felt safe and protected and not like her whole life had been a lie and that her purpose hadn't been served.

"Alright, where are the pains and how bad are they?" Eddie's voice was oddly calm, despite the raging emotions plastered across his face. He was always easy to read. His eyes were dragging up and down her frame, noticing every slight movement she made, how she shifted from foot to foot, how she leaned forward. The way she tried to hold her breath and keep it for a few seconds to calm herself down.

"It's easing now," (Y/n) panted through her words as she took one of Eddie's hands and moved it down her stomach where the tension was starting to loosen like an elastic band that had been pulled and then let go.

She stayed still as Eddie moved his hand around her stomach, focusing on the way his jaw clicked from side to side and he arched a brow.

"I'll bet it's contractions." His hand left her stomach to run across his jaw and the hints of stubble kissing his skin.

He couldn't see it being anything else when (Y/n) was so close to her due date, closer than they expected to be with twins. They had been waiting for this to happen for weeks now, they had all been on red alert. All the team were ready for (Y/n) to call in and say she was in labour so they could send Eddie home and pick up his shifts for him.

At least it was happening now, while Eddie was off work and everyone was together. It just happened to be after a family argument.

"I w-wanna go home." (Y/n) repeated, looking between her husband and her brother until they both nodded. They had to go now while the contractions were just starting, before (Y/n)'s water broke and before the contractions became frequent.

They needed to go and tell Chris and get everything ready and get someone to babysit him so they could go to the hospital.

"Alright baby, let's go."

Arching her back out, (Y/n) clamped her hands down on the back of the sofa and leaned down until her forehead was pressed down against her arms. She could feel the sweat rolling down the back of her neck and her hair sticking to her temple and around the sides of her neck making her itch and squirm.

The shirt she had been wearing all evening was tossed on the floor somewhere, leaving her in her bra and maternity leggings which kept rolling further and further down her stomach.

Her nails scrunched up in the back of the sofa while a groan muffled through her clamped lips.

Once the pain rolled through her abdomen and shook down to her toes, (Y/n) flopped one arm down until her hand curled around her brother's shoulder. She wiggled her hips from side to side, trying to reduce the pain and get the stiffness to dissipate.

"H-how long was that?" She didn't bother to open her eyes, but she felt Buck lean his head back into the sofa so he could look up at her. His left hand came up to rub up and down her shoulder and arm soothingly while he propped his feet up on the coffee table.

"About thirteen minutes apart now. Almost there." Buck tried to smile up at his twin.

He had been timing the contractions since they came home and started to get everything sorted out. All three of them had been oddly calm up until this last hour when the pains got worse and they knew they would be heading to the hospital soon.

He had kept count of each contraction, noting how long they lasted and the time between each one. While Eddie grabbed their hospital bag and tried to sort everything out for Chris. Carla had since gone home after wishing them all the luck she could and making them promise to ring her once the girls were born.

The plan was for Buck to stay here and watch Chris for the night and then once the girls were born, he would bring Chris down to the hospital to see them.

"No wonder mum had a C-section with us." (Y/n) grumbled under her breath as she sank lower into the sofa and wriggled her hips around to see if it would do anything for the pain. Her back felt like it had been broken. She wanted to lie on the floor and click each column of her spine back into place, but she would never get up if she did that.

She felt Buck laugh and give her shoulder a squeeze as he nodded in agreement, they had always been reminded from a young age that their mum had to have a C-section with them.

That was starting to feel like an easier option than this, if (Y/n) didn't have the energy now to keep going through these contractions, how on Earth was she going to get through pushing two girls out?

Now though, after finding out about Daniel, (Y/n) couldn't help but wonder if their mum would of planned a C-section all along when she had her and Buck. She wondered if their birthday had been planned out and decided beforehand in order to give Daniel the best chance. A chance that clearly hadn't worked for him since he wasn't here anymore.

"That was only 'cos you got the cord around your neck."

She felt Buck let go of her shoulder so he could rub his hand up and down her arm and he tipped his head back on the sofa to look across at her.

"Do y-you think that will happen with them?"

Her hand dropped to cradle her stomach that felt like it was weighing her down to the floor as a spark of worry shot through her heart. Could something like that happen with her girls? Could that be happening right now and (Y/n) didn't know about it?

Their mum had had to have a C-section right away when they found out the cord was around (Y/n)'s neck causing both twins to be in distress. It was one of the reasons why (Y/n) had been kept in the hospital longer than Buck when they were born.

And now (Y/n) understood why their mum always made her seem like an inconvenience when she told them about their birth. Their mum had things on her mind. She had Maddie to look after and another sick child she was trying to nurse back to health, without the added stress of having twins who had to be born earlier than planned.

But that probably helped a little, being born early meant the doctors would of been able to harvest the stem cells and any blood they needed from the twins, for Daniel.

Did they take blood from the twins? Did they only take the stem cells from the umbilical cord? Or was that not enough? Had the twins donated to their brother when they were little and never known about it?

"Hey, that's not gonna happen." Buck's voice was stern but his expression was sincere with his eyes boring into hers like he was trying to see through to her soul. He could practically hear her overthinking. "You're all gonna be fine, and they'll have Eddie wrapped round their fingers."

His words calmed down one of the many worries running around in (Y/n)'s mind and she tried to nod and agree. Nothing had been wrong so far so there was no reason to start worrying now.

Her hands pressed down on the sofa again and she pushed herself up, locking her elbows to try and steady herself.

She continued to sway from left to right, hoping to ease the pain in her back and hips. A soft smile washed over her tense features when she saw a familiar mop of brown curls bouncing along, aiming her way.

Chris stood beside her and waited for (Y/n)'s sign of approval that he could reach out and wrap his arms around her.

When she turned to face him and slouched her left hip against the sofa, she opened her arms so Chris could give her a hug. He always had that cheesy smile on his face when he wanted a hug and he wouldn't meet her eyes, but his face said it all.

His arms locked around her and he pressed his face into her stomach, his curls tickling her bump since she wasn't wearing Eddie's shirt anymore. She looped her arm around the back of his neck and kissed his curls while Buck reached over and gave Chris's shoulder a light squeeze.

"Okay mum?"

"I'm good," She murmured into his hair, dragging her hand up and down his back and she smiled when she felt Chris kiss her stomach.

"Just you and me soon buddy, come find a film, we can stay up late." Buck was quite glad it was the weekend. He and Chris would be up well past midnight- not that Eddie or (Y/n) needed to know that- and they would be watching movies or documentaries with bowls of sweets surrounding them.

Buck loved when he and Chris got to spend time together and he couldn't wait to be able to take Chris and the girls out soon and proudly announce he had a nephew and two little nieces. Then when Maddie and Chimney had their girl, Buck would be overwhelmed with nieces to make his knees go weak and he would be desperate to babysit them all.

He could already see him, Maddie and (Y/n) going on days out with all the kids to the zoo or the park. And family dinners - without their parents- was going to get a lot more interesting and full of love.

Chris finally untangled himself from (Y/n) and moved to slump down on the sofa next to Buck, taking the remote so he could scour through for a film. While (Y/n) went back to leaning forward against the sofa since it was the only way she felt comfy.

Sitting down wasn't an option, she was in too much discomfort to sit and she didn't have the energy to pace anymore. Standing and swaying like this was her only option.

Her eyes watched the tv as Chris flicked through the channels, trying to find something worth watching. And her lips tried to curve into a smile when she felt a hand on the small of her back and a sudden pair of lips glued against the back of her neck.

She felt Eddie curve his chest over her back, muttering a quiet "Hi baby," into her skin before he reached his free hand over the sofa and tapped Buck's shoulder.

"Maddie's ringing me now, she must be worried. Here."

Maddie had tried calling both the twins but neither of them answered. They knew their parents would still be at Maddie and Chimney's apartment and they didn't want to speak to them. Chimney had tried calling Buck twice but he didn't answer. The pair of them were fine. They were with Eddie, nothing bad was going to happen and they were hardly going to go off the rails.

If (Y/n) wasn't pregnant or married to Eddie, if the twins got this news a few years ago, there would have been trouble. They would have been reckless, they would have gone out drinking or wandering the streets, wallowing in the news they had just been given. There would of been cause to panic.

But that wasn't the case. They were with Eddie, he kept them both level-headed and (Y/n) had too much pressing on her mind- and her pelvis- to be wallowing anymore.

It seemed best to try and pretend tonight hadn't happened and lock away the thoughts, questions and anger about Daniel. Feigning ignorance like Maddie and their parents had done for years, felt like the easiest option, just to get (Y/n) through this labour.

Once the girls were here, they could all talk and try to move past this.

"Pass her over." Buck sighed, reaching up for the phone. He had turned his own phone on silent and (Y/n) had left her phone in her bag near the front door.

They knew Maddie must be desperate and panicked if she was calling Eddie to try and find out if the twins were okay. And the last thing they needed was the other Buckley sister getting so pent up and nervous that she too went into labour from the stress of this evening.

"Hello?"

"Buck? Oh thank God. Are you okay? How's (Y/n)? I wish you all would of stayed, we want to talk, to explain-"

Buck groaned, running his hand up and down his face while his sister rambled in his ear and turned his brain to mush. She always was a panicker, much like Buck and (Y/n) were overthinkers.

"Mads stop panicking, we're good I swear. We haven't gone off the rails or gone out on a bender." That might not be strictly true, both of them weren't exactly okay, they were dumb struck and boggled and uneasy about all of this. But there wasn't cause for concern either.

"How's (Y/n)? I need to talk to her-"

"Nows not the best time… just give us 'til tomorrow-"

"No, Buck I need to talk to you both. I need to explain, we're all so sorry and we're worried."

He could hear the pain in her voice and he knew she had been crying. And the phone was loud enough that (Y/n) and Eddie could hear her too.

A pang shot through (Y/n)'s heart and she tipped her head down onto her forearms, arching her back out into Eddie. Her heart calmed down its erratic rhythm when Eddie bent over her, his hands on her hips and his mouth attached to the side of her neck to try and keep her calm.

"She's gone into labour. They're heading off soon and I'm staying here with Chris, I swear I'll call you when I hear anything."

Buck nodded to himself, hummed and muttered a soft 'love you too' before he hung up and handed the phone back to Eddie. His mind was exhausted from tonight but he was also running on overdrive. He wouldn't be sleeping tonight, he could feel it.

"Oow, a-another one." (Y/n) hissed, arching back into Eddie while her hand flapped down to alert Buck that she was getting another contraction.

She felt Eddie's hands move round to cup her stomach while he hummed against her neck, running his lips up and down her soft skin that was starting to become flushed. He could feel her shaking into him and she bent her knees until he was holding some of her weight up for her, not that he minded at all.

"Eddie…" Her nails scratched into the sofa, close to breaking through the material as her knees bent down and she felt like she was going to kneel down on the floor. She didn't know what to do with herself, she wanted to move but she didn't have the energy, but staying still didn't feel right either.

"You're okay, mi amor. Come on, sit on the chair, not the floor please." Eddie knew if (Y/n) crouched down here they would have a hard time getting her back up again.

His words caused both Buck and Chris to turn and look behind them over the shoulder. Watching as Eddie pulled (Y/n) back up so she didn't go down on her knees.

"You're down to ten minutes apart, it's time to go." Buck looked at his watch while he twisted and pushed up to look at his sister.

He could be accurate and tell her she was ten minutes and twenty-one seconds between contractions, but he didn't think the accuracy would help her right now. Ten minutes was their marker, once she hit that then it was time to go down to the hospital and have the girls.

(Y/n) could feel Eddie smiling against her shoulder. That was what he had been waiting to hear. He was no good at milling about the house, waiting and trying to keep busy until it was time to go. Especially when they didn't have an exact time for departing. Things would go swiftly when they got to the hospital.

"Alright, let's get you in the car." Buck's voice was soft but he couldn't keep the hint of excitement from his voice.

He pushed up from the sofa and moved round to the back to stand on (Y/n)'s other side while Chris leant up against the back of the sofa. He smiled at both parents, folding his arms near (Y/n)'s and resting his chin on his arms.

They had already told him what to expect. It would be another normal sleepover with Buck round at their place. The twins wouldn't be born until the morning at the least so Buck and Chris could try and get some sleep. And then Buck would take Chris down to the hospital as soon as Eddie called them to say the girls were here and okay.

Then when Chris went back to school on Monday, he could go and tell his friends and his teachers that his mum had finally had the twins. All the teachers had been asking after (Y/n) and his English teacher had asked Eddie four weeks ago if the twins had been born when Eddie had dropped Chris off quite a few times and no one had seen (Y/n). Finally, they would be born now.

"Wait, I- oow," (Y/n) leaned back into Eddie and let Buck take hold of her hands, but she shook her head.

Her knees bent down again and she tucked her chin down into her neck, snapping her eyes closed as shivers wracked down her body. She felt Eddie's arms tighten around her while he leaned his chest back a little so he could look her over and see why she was suddenly tensing up. Surely it couldn't be another contraction that quickly.

"Oh," Eddie's lips curved into a soft smile and he kissed the back of her head when he realised the reason. "Alright, maybe let's get changed before we go, hm?"

Her waters had finally broken.

***

A bright smile lit up Eddie's face and he pushed himself off the wall when he glanced down the corridor. His eyes locked onto the two faces he had been waiting around to see.

Pushing off the wall, he opened his arms and leaned down when Chris sped forward and barelled into his torso. His arms looped around his son and he kissed the top of his head, ruffling his curls while Chris clung to him and started to laugh. They had only seen each other last night, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since then.

It felt like days instead of hours since Chris had kissed his parents goodbye and watched from the window as Eddie and Buck helped (Y/n) into the car and his dad drove off. The night had dragged out while Chris and Buck watched two movies and ate their weight in popcorn, and then Chris couldn't sleep. He just wanted the night to go by quickly like it was Christmas Eve and he was desperate for morning to break so he could delve into his presents.

And Eddie felt like he had been here at the hospital for over a hundred hours. His body was burning from lack of sleep but he felt like his batteries had been fully charged and he could go for days running off this adrenaline high.

His hands were aching, his arms suddenly felt empty and his body was about to be overcome with shaking, but he felt better now Chris and Buck were here.

"Hey! You okay?" His voice was muffled in Chris's hair before Chris pulled back and pressed his chin into Eddie's chest so he could look up at him.

"Yeah, is mum okay? The girls are here now?"

He could see the light sparkling in Chris's eyes and he was practically bouncing up and down like he was charged on rocket fuel, waiting for lift off. He had woken Buck up extra early this morning, desperate to be told that his mum had had the girls and they could go down and visit. He had bounced off the walls waiting for Eddie to ring and finally, just after nine o'clock, Eddie gave them both the news they had been waiting for.

"Your mum's doing great, they're all okay and waiting for you. Go say hi."

Uncurling one arm from Chris, Eddie gave the door a nudge and motioned for Chris to head on inside. He could have a minute or two alone with (Y/n) and the girls while Eddie and Buck talked.

"All went well then, no problems?" The smile on Buck's face was as giddy as ever and his hands were jittering up and down against his thighs. He knew if something had been wrong, Eddie would have said over the phone, but he couldn't help the spark of worry he felt.

Buck had been praying for this to go well ever since (Y/n) told them she was pregnant again. He couldn't see his sister go through the turmoil again like when she had her miscarriage. He knew she and Eddie wanted this, to have a family together, desperately.

"Yep, no problems, except I think she might have popped a knuckle in the process." Eddie shook his left hand to signal his point.

Eddie had been apprehensive. His experience with Shannon during Chris's birth had been smooth sailing right up until he got stuck and Eddie didn't want to see that happening to (Y/n), especially since they were having twins. But everything had gone smoothly, so smoothly in fact that Eddie felt like he was still waiting for something to go wrong. It felt like they were having too much good luck.

But all three of his girls were doing great, the only issue was his index finger and his knuckle that was throbbing from how tightly (Y/n) had deadlocked his hand in her grip. At one point, Eddie felt his knuckle crack and he couldn't be sure if she had popped it out of place or just clicked the joint.

"So you're a girl dad now, huh? When Chim and Maddie have their girl that's three to one. You're next one needs to be a boy, even the score a bit." He reached out to pat Eddie's shoulder and he grinned when his brother in law let out a loud laugh.

"What makes you think the next kid in this family will be ours again and not yours or Chim again?"

As much as Eddie could see Buck being a family man and wanting kids of his own, that might not be happening for a while. He wasn't in a stable relationship right now to think about having kids. But it did entertain Eddie that his brother clearly thought he and (Y/n) would be the next ones to have another kid.

Eddie would want another kid, he could see them having a big family and it was something they had talked about a few times. But they'd just had two kids at once, they wouldn't be thinking about another baby for a while. It might well be Chimney and Maddie having another kid before Eddie and (Y/n), or Buck could find himself in a stable relationship and having a kid before them.

"Because you're the one who gets baby fever."

A playful sigh parted through Eddie's lips and he nodded while he rolled his eyes. Valid point. He wouldn't argue it any further, this wasn't a topic he needed to think about when his daughters had just been born two hours ago.

He stretched his hand out towards the door, about to push it open so they could head inside, but he stopped when his gaze darted down the corridor.

His lips twitched like he wanted to smile, but he couldn't find the will. Not when his eyes glanced past Maddie and saw two people he didn't want to be around anymore. Phillip and Margaret.

They shouldn't be here.

It had taken Buck and Eddie over an hour to calm (Y/n) down when they got home last night. She had been distraught about the bombshell that dropped over dinner last night and she didn't want to think or talk to or be around her parents. She wanted them to stay as far away from her and Buck as possible because the twins were better off away from their parents.

This was a happy occasion, this was a day to be celebrating. Eddie didn't want them here chiding at (Y/n) or putting her down or making her feel uncomfortable. After everything she had been through, she deserved to be happy and stress free, especially today.

"Hi, how is everyone? Chim's had to go on shift but he's definitely coming by after work. Can I…?" Maddie rubbed her hands together and pointed towards the room.

She would never barge in if she wasn't welcome and she hadn't spoken to her sister since dinner last night. She wouldn't want to go in and ruin a sweet family moment or upset (Y/n), she would rather go home than risk distressing her younger sister.

But tears welled up in her eyes and she sighed when Eddie's lips curved into a smile and his hand gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Of course you can."

He knew the twins had already forgiven Maddie. They had most likely forgiven her before they got home last night. They weren't happy she had kept this secret. She could of told them when they were older, when they moved out or the countless times they asked why their parents were so cruel and distant and uncaring towards them. But they were starting to see things from Maddie's point of view and understand why she didn't.

And she had raised them, they couldn't do anything but forgive Maddie who had become their mother over the years. They found it easy to forgive her, but their parents wouldn't be so easily forgiven.

"Are we okay?" Her hand reached out for Buck but she was taken by surprise when he reached out and deadlocked his arms around her. He reeled her into his chest and kissed the top of her head. His hand rubbed up and down her back as he smiled and murmured a soft "We're fine," into her hair.

He pushed open the door and let Maddie walk in ahead of them. It was clear that Maddie had turned up separate from her parents. She wasn't waiting for them, she wasn't talking or acknowledging them. After all they had said and done last night, Maddie was saying bare minimum to them and it wouldn't be her place to argue with them today, right here.

She wanted to see her sister and her nieces, whether their parents were allowed in was up to Eddie and (Y/n).

Once she was inside, Buck shut the door and turned to face his parents. He didn't want (Y/n) knowing they were here, he didn't want anyone or anything to upset his sister today.

"I think the room's at maximum capacity now." He couldn't find it in himself to smile. They weren't forgiven yet and Buck wasn't happy to be stood so close to them. He didn't want to be around them after all the problems they had caused and how badly they had traumatised both Buck and (Y/n) over the years. And now the twins knew why, it just made them want to retreat away even further.

Buck knew he was speaking on his sister's behalf, he knew (Y/n) wouldn't want them here. And he couldn't go inside and leave Eddie stood out here talking to them, not unless he wanted to risk a fight breaking out.

Eddie had no patience with his in-laws anymore. He would be blunt, crude and down-right dismissive to them if he wanted, and he wasn't past the point of swearing or possibly becoming physical if the occasion called for it. Buck felt like he had to stay in case he had to guide Eddie back into the room so he didn't get himself kicked out of the hospital.

"Evan… Eddie, it's our granddaughters," Margaret clasped her hands together in front of her and leaned into Phillip as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

The way they smiled was desperate, they wanted to be given another chance, but it was becoming apparent that they weren't going to get one.

Buck and (Y/n) had given them so many chances over the years and they were tired. Buck was tired of hurting himself to get their attention. (Y/n) was tired of screaming and shouting and never being heard. They were both done with being dismissed and ignored and treated like they weren't part of the family or that they were disposable.

They hadn't made it a priority to come down to LA when Buck had his leg crushed by the fire truck and went through five operations. They didn't come down when (Y/n) was in turmoil after Eddie got shot.

And they only came down after (Y/n)'s miscarriage because Maddie told them to show some respect for their daughter and see how she was doing. That had been a mistake everyone regretted.

The Buckley parents weren't needed here anymore and they weren't wanted, the twins were loved and cared for by the family they chose at the 118.

"If you wait three months, the granddaughter you're most bothered about will be here." The snide tone couldn't be hidden from Eddie's voice while he folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall.

He had always seen how Maddie was prioritised over the twins, over (Y/n). She was the preferred and loved daughter and it bugged Eddie, especially because Maddie never acted on it or seemed spoiled or like she wanted their attention. It was irritating.

Eddie had to watch the Buckley parents barely pay (Y/n) any attention when she told them she was engaged. He saw how they weren't so interested when Maddie told them (Y/n) was pregnant, they couldn't of cared any less. And when she lost the baby, it was as if they could hit a reset button and forget.

When (Y/n) told them that she was pregnant again, they were responsive, but only mildly. Congratulations, that's sweet, when are you due? That was the most (Y/n) got over the phone.

But when Maddie announced she was pregnant, oh the world lit up and Eddie despised them for it. he despised that (Y/n) had to seek that love and joy from Eddie's parents instead of her own.

When they told Eddie's parents, they were so thrilled. When they lost the baby, Eddie's parents came down for a week to stay with them and his mum was so good comforting and trying to comfort (Y/n) and make her feel understood and loved. After telling them about the twins, his parents were always on the phone, asking how they were and wanting to visit.

And now his parents were coming down in two days to stay for a week to see the twins and be with their family.

"Eddie, please we don't want to fight-"

"Good, neither do we. You've barely bothered with (Y/n) since she got pregnant, this is the first time we've seen you since telling you and look how that ended, you stressed her into labour. Not to mention you were fucking rude to her about near enough everything, and you brought up her miscarriage."

Eddie could feel his blood starting to boil over and he curled his hands into fists at his sides to try and calm himself down.

He didn't need to start a fight. He didn't need to cause an argument or make this into a big thing. He just needed them to understand that they weren't wanted nor welcome here right now and they had to go now.

"You're not going in there and upsetting her today." His voice calmed down and his lips almost curved into a smile as he took a deep breath and lowered his tone.

He felt Buck's hand on his shoulder, turning him towards the door so they could both head inside and leave this dreaded conversation dead and buried out here.

"She doesn't want to see you yet, and neither do I." Buck couldn't bring himself to look at his parents. His hand tightened on Eddie's shoulder and he gave him a nudge until the pair of them were walking through the door. And he used his heel to kick the door shut behind them, making it clear that his parents were not invited for this family moment.

"There you are, what were you two doing?"

The grin that spread across (Y/n)'s face was enough to have Buck smiling in return and had Eddie's heart jumping up into his throat.

"Just talking."

Eddie danced his eyes around the room, taking in the sight of his family as he moved to sit down on the bed. He sank down next to (Y/n) and looped his arm around the back of her shoulders so he could tuck her into his chest. Her arms immediately looped around his chest and her face smothered into his shoulder while she felt wet kisses being pressed against her temple.

She had Eddie sat next to her, Maddie perched on the side of the bed next to her knees, and Chris was sat in the chair beside the bed. It left one more chair vacant which Buck grabbed and dragged over so he was next to Eddie.

"Come on then, introduce me." Buck smiled and leaned his elbows on his thighs so he could lean over and try to take a look at the youngest set of twins in the room.

He could see one girl in Maddie's arms who the eldest sibling was cooing and smiling at, cradling her against her own bump. And Chris had his other sister in his arms, swaying from side to side as he grinned so brightly he could barely open his eyes.

"This is Isabella," (Y/n) unhooked one arm from Eddie so she could lean across and rest her hand on Maddie's wrist, indicating to the newborn she was cradling.

"And Chris has Sophia." Eddie cast his eyes across to the eldest who slowly tilted his arms so Buck could lean over to look at both twins.

"My turn, come to uncle Buck." He held his arms out expectingly while his big sister sighed and carefully eased the newborn over to him. It was only fair since she had already held both twins and Buck hadn't seen either of them yet. And Chris clearly wasn't giving up his other sister just yet.

His smile broadened when the little girl was in his embrace and he danced his fingertip across her cheek. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her until a sudden thought crossed his mind and he looked up, trying to look across at the other twin before he glanced across at Eddie.

"I almost forgot… are they identical?"

"Yep." (Y/n) relaxed back into Eddie, feeling a sudden wave of tiredness wash over her like she was being swept away in the ocean. This had been something she often worried about. Identical meant the possibility of getting them mixed up. It meant (Y/n) wanting to keep their hospital bracelets on them for a while longer when they got home to make sure she didn't switch them up.

She was glad they had bought some hats and onesies with S and I printed on them to make it easier to tell them apart. And neither twin had any birth marks to be able to help tell them apart.

"You owe me twenty." Buck muttered quietly, tapping Eddie's arm to remind him of the bet they made a few months back.

(Y/n) let herself sink down against Eddie's chest and when his other arm looped around her chest, (Y/n) latched both her hands around his bicep. She nuzzled her cheek into his shoulder, smiling when she felt his lips against the top of her head and he squeezed her into his chest.

This was their family, right here.

#imagine #911 imagine #eddie diaz x reader #pregnant! reader #evan buckley #eddie diaz imagine #eddie x reader #maddie buckley han

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vanteguccir · 3 days

Text

Over Again | Chris Sturniolo

Chris Sturniolo x reader

Summary: Y/N is caught between the past and the present, struggling to overcome her love for Chris while trying to move on with Alex, a kind and understanding man. When Chris reappears in her life, Y/N is forced to confront her feelings and make difficult decisions.

Warning: Crying, angst/comfort with a happy ending.

Requested?: Yes, by @ecliphttlunar and @sturniolohisteric

Author's note: That is my work, I DON'T authorize any plagiarism, copy, or "inspiration"! | English isn't my first language, so I'm sorry if there's any grammar error.

༻✦༺ 　༻✧༺　༻✦༺

Ever since she was a teenager, Y/N had always wondered what death would feel like. Those who have experienced it are not here to tell stories of it. Would it be painful? Would she feel it squeeze her heart with its dark touch, or would she sigh for the last time in her sleep, letting the darkness take her without noticing the transition?

But now, for her, death was not the last breath escaping her lungs, nor the melodic sound of machines beside her body in a hospital room. It was something that drowned her from the inside out.

His style is infused throughout her closet, his smile carved into the Polaroids she's kept as memories for years. She could still hear his voice, everywhere, in the people passing by on the street, the same Boston accent fresh in her mind.

Dying was not a singular event but a collection of small moments, of broken promises and shattered hopes.

Y/N wondered if she would ever be able to erase those memories, or if his shadow would always be there, an inescapable presence around every corner, in every look.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

The city skyline, jagged and imposing, reflected in the windows of the triplets' Los Angeles home. The rooms were simple, modern and decorated perfectly to suit their personalities, but they seemed cold and impersonal at that moment, devoid of the warmth that once marked their lives with Y/N, but especially that of one person, Chris. It had been six months since they broke up, but Y/N's absence permeated the air, a ghost haunting every corner.

Chris was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the framed photograph on the nightstand. It was an old picture of him and Y/N, taken during a trip to the coast where they were celebrating their two years together. Their smiles were wide and genuine, their arms wrapped in a tight hug. The sea breeze had tousled her hair, and her eyes shone with unspoken promises. Now, it seemed like a lifetime ago, a different era when happiness seemed to last forever.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. Emma, his current girlfriend - or not anymore -, had left a few hours ago after a tense homemade dinner. They had been together for a few months now, but the connection felt forced, artificial. He tried to be present, to participate, but his mind always went back to Y/N. The laughter at the simplest jokes, the comfort of touch, the silent understanding that flowed between them effortlessly. With Y/N, he felt complete, understood, at home.

Meanwhile, across town, Y/N stood on the balcony of her new apartment, the city lights casting a soft glow on her face. She had also started seeing someone, Alex, a kind and patient soul who seemed to genuinely care. But try as he might, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

Alex was wonderful, but he wasn't Chris.

The memories of her time with Chris were a constant, painful reminder of what she had lost.

Y/N crossed her arms around herself, trying to ward off the cold that didn't just come from the cool night air. She remembered the nights spent in Chris's arms, the way he held her close, her back pressed firmly against his chest covered in Fresh Love's hoodies, his heartbeat sounding like a comforting beat against her ear. Those nights were full of whispered confessions and shared dreams, a sanctuary of intimacy that now seemed so far away.

Y/N wandered into the living room, unable to bear the sight of the painful memories any longer, it was comical how she could almost hear his loud laughter and whispered promises of love against her ears.

The girl poured herself a drink, hoping it would ease the pain, but she knew better. Alcohol might provide a temporary distraction, but it would never fill the void Chris had left.

She wondered if he thought about her, if he missed her as much as she missed him.

As the night grew darker, both Chris and Y/N found themselves reaching for the phone, the desire to hear the other's voice almost unbearable. But they stopped themselves, knowing it wouldn't change anything.

They really tried to move on and build new lives apart, but their hearts still belonged to each other. It was a cruel irony, to be so close and yet so far away, to love so deeply and yet be unable to be together.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

The next day, Chris met Emma for lunch after fighting hard against Nick and Matt's complaints. He had to apologize and put an end on it.

She talked excitedly about her day, her eyes shining with excitement. Chris was smiling and nodding, but his thoughts were miles away. He wondered what Y/N was doing, if she was having lunch at her favorite Italian restaurant at that moment, if she was accompanied or alone, if maybe she found someone who made her feel complete again.

He felt a pang of guilt, knowing that Emma deserved someone who could give her all her attention, someone who wasn't haunted by the past.

It was not necessary to note that Emma soon noticed, again, his mental absence. A fervent discussion installed itself between both bodies, where Chris just nodded, knowing that he was on the wrong end, keeping his eyes down.

The boy left the restaurant without a girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Y/N was in a coffee shop with Alex, who was explaining a new project at work. She tried to focus, to be present, but her mind kept going back to Chris. She remembered how Chris listened intently to her, his eyes never leaving hers, making her feel like she was the only living person in the world.

With Alex, it was different. He was kind and caring, but there was no spark. There was no magic.

She felt suffocated.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

Days turned into weeks, and both Chris and Y/N continued their charade, pretending that they were fine, that they had moved on. But in the quiet moments, when they were alone with their thoughts, the truth was inescapable. They were still in love, still yearning for each other, still incomplete. Their new lifes seemed like shadows, pale imitations of what they had shared.

One night, Chris was sitting by the huge window in the living room, looking out onto the sparsely populated street, feeling the emptiness in his heart almost suffocating him.

The boy fished his phone out of the front pocket of his hoodie, his finger hovering over Y/N's name. Should he call? Would it make any difference? He hesitated, torn between his desire and his fear of rejection.

Across the city, Y/N was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Alex had kissed her goodnight and quickly fallen asleep, but Y/N was wide awake. Her eyes, which roamed the darkness of the room tirelessly, found her cell on the bedside table, thinking for long seconds before picking it up, her heart pounding.

Her fingers scrolled through old messages from Chris, the words a bittersweet reminder of their love. She wanted to send a text, to say something, anything, to bridge the gap that had grown between them. But doubt gnawed at her.

What if Chris had moved on? What if her text only opened old wounds?

At that moment, as if guided by some invisible force, both Chris and Y/N decided to connect.

Chris took a deep breath and dialed Y/N's number, his heart racing with each ring. At the same time, Y/N typed a short, halting text: "I miss you."

The phone rang twice before Y/N's screen lit up with Chris' name. Her breath caught in her throat as she processed what she was seeing before sliding her thumb over the green button.

"Chris?"

"Y/N." He said softly, relief filling his voice.

Y/N's eyes filled with tears upon hearing the voice that her ears had begged to hear again. Her eyes darted briefly towards Alex before she slowly got up from her own bed, walking out of the room stealthily, towards the balcony.

"I was about to text you." The girl's voice came out in a timid whisper, her free hand curling into a fist of anxiety. "I miss you, Chris."

"I miss you too. Every day, every moment. Being without you… feels wrong." Chris let out a shaky laugh, a mixture of joy and pain.

They fell silent, the weight of their words hanging in the air. It was a painful truth they had been avoiding, but now it was exposed.

"Chris, do you think we made a mistake?" Y/N asked after long minutes of listening to his breathing on the other side, her voice shaking.

"I think about it every day." He admitted. "We thought we were doing the right thing, giving each other space, but all I felt was emptiness. Nothing and no one compares to you, Y/N."

"Oh, Chris." Tears streamed down Y/N's face, her teeth gripping her bottom lip in a death grip in an attempt to hold back the sobs.

"Can I see you?"

"Now? Chris, I... Alex is with me." Y/N shook her head, even though she knew he couldn't see her, sniffling as her fingers pressed her eyes lightly, trying to ease the tears.

"Right, Alex..."

Chris was silent for a moment, processing the situation. His mind was in turmoil, but the need to see her, to be with her, was overwhelming. He knew he couldn't wait any longer, that every moment away from her was torment.

"I understand." He said finally, clearing his throat awkwardly, trying to keep his voice steady. "But... Can we talk in person tomorrow? I really need to talk to you."

Y/N nodded. She knew they had to. Ignoring her feelings wouldn't get them anywhere. It would only hurt them more.

"I know. Can we meet tomorrow? Maybe at our place?"

Our place. The little cafe where they spent so many mornings together, laughing and planning the future. Chris's heart skipped a beat when he heard those words.

"Yes, of course. Tomorrow at ten?"

"It's a date." Y/N replied softly, feeling a mix of anxiety and hope.

After hanging up the call, Y/N remained sitting on the balcony, her mind rushing. Chris's words echoed in her head, and she knew she had to make a difficult decision. She looked inside the apartment, where Alex was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the internal conflict she was facing.

After a few minutes, the girl took a deep breath and returned to her room. She sat in the corner armchair, hugging her knees and watching her casual date sleep. He seemed so calm, so serene, which made her feel a weight in her heart, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, but she knew she was already doing it just by being with him.

The hours passed slowly. Y/N couldn't sleep, anxiety gnawing at her insides as her fingers moved against each other frantically. Her thoughts were a tangle of memories, doubts, and hopes. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Chris's face, felt his touch, and heard his voice. And that made her more awake than ever.

Around seven in the morning, Alex started to move. He turned over in bed, ready to get up, looking for Y/N next to himself. When he didn't find her body, he opened his eyes slowly, blinking to adjust to the low light in the room, a consequence of the sun that invaded through the cracks in the white aluminum windows. His eyes quickly found the girl's silhouette in the armchair, and his confused expression turned to concern.

"Y/N?" He called softly, voice hoarse with sleep. "What are you doing there? How long have you been awake?"

"Alex, hey... I lost sleep." The girl met his eyes quickly, sadness and determination reflected in her eyes.

"Is everything okay?" Alex frowned, his orbs studying Y/N's facial expressions, noticing her discomfort.

"Alex, we need to talk."

"What happened? You look worried." He sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Y/N took a deep breath, trying to find the right words, her eyes lowering to her fingers, which were clenching her palms in anxiety.

"I... need to be honest with you. Something happened tonight that made me realize a few things."

"What was it? You can tell me." Alex tilted his head, concern rising.

She slowly got up from the armchair and walked to the bed, sitting on the edge of the mattress, next to him. Her right hand worked to find Alex's hand, feeling the warmth and gentleness in it, and that only made everything more difficult.

"Chris called me."

"Chris? Your ex-boyfriend?" Alex frowned slightly.

Y/N nodded, her tongue moistening her lips quickly, preparing to begin.

"Yes. We talked, and... I realized that I still have very strong feelings for him. I tried to move on, I tried to build something with you, but it's not fair. It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to me." She pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling Alex's fingers squeeze hers.

Alex was silent for a moment, processing her words. Finally, he sighed and looked down at his clasped hands.

"You still love him, don't you?"

"Yes, Alex. And it's not because you're not wonderful. You are amazing. But my heart… my heart, is still with Chris." Her voice broke slightly as her eyes filled with tears, her heart clenching in fear and guilt. "I'm sorry for holding you back for so long." A lone tear escaped, running down her cheek slowly.

"I appreciate your honesty, Y/N... I knew, you know? In a way, I felt like there was something you were holding back. Something that was keeping you from being completely with me." He squeezed her hand gently, his eyes full of understanding.

"Aren't you mad?" She raised her eyes to him, widening them in surprise at his response, sniffling as her free hand reached up to her own face, wiping away the single cold tear.

Alex shook his head slowly.

"No, I'm not. I'm sad, of course. I really like you, and I thought we could build something together, I had a million expectations. But I understand that you can't control your heart. And you were honest with me, and that's more than what a lot of people would do. I can't force you to stay with me."

Y/N let out a shaky breath, relieved by his understanding, feeling her heart lighter.

"I didn't want to hurt you, Alex. You deserve someone who can love you completely, without reservation. And I... need to work this out with Chris. See if there's still a chance for us."

"I hope you find what you're looking for, Y/N. And if things don't work out with Chris, I hope you find someone who makes you happy. You deserve it." Alex smiled sadly, but with genuine kindness.

She squeezed his hand one last time, feeling a rush of gratitude.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

Y/N's head was a mess as she carefully dressed, choosing an outfit she knew Chris liked. As she looked in the mirror, trying to tame her hair, she remembered the lazy mornings when he would do this for her, a playful smile on his lips.

Chris was also anxious. He tried to hide his nervousness from Nick and Matt, but his brothers - who knew him more than he knew himself - noticed.

"You're going to see her, aren't you?" Matt asked, a knowing smile on his face as he spread peanut butter on his rice cracker, watching him from his seat at the dinner table.

Chris just nodded, taking big, quick gulps of his Pepsi.

"I have to do this. I need to know."

"Good luck." Nick muttered, patting him on the shoulder as he walked past him, sitting in the chair opposite Matt's. "We're rooting for you."

The cafe was almost empty when Y/N arrived. The girl chose a table at the back, where they usually sat and waited, feeling her heart beating wildly. Her eyes traveled frantically from the door to the window and back again, watching the passersby, trying to calm her nerves as she cracked her knuckles.

Chris arrived a few minutes later, still as handsome as she remembered. The boy stopped in front of the glass door of the establishment momentarily, his eyes sweeping the place, accompanied by his brow furrowed in confusion and anxiety, quickly meeting hers.

It was as if an instantaneous and joint spark ran through their bodies, both of them feeling a wave of emotions that almost knocked them over.

Chris took a deep breath, starting his steps towards her, sitting down with a shy smile in the free chair in front of her.

"Hey." Chris whispered, his voice soft, full of contained feelings, and only at that moment did Y/N understand how much she missed hearing the boy's voice in person.

"Hey." Y/N, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, an embarrassed nasal laugh escaping before she clears her throat, blinking rapidly.

The silence between them was not uncomfortable but full of unsaid things and pure feelings.

Finally, Y/N broke the ice.

"I... haven't stopped thinking about you, Chris. Ever since we split up, everything feels so empty."

Chris nodded, leaning his upper body on the base of the table and taking Y/N's hands - which were still tangled up in an act of nervousness -, interlacing their fingers gently.

"Me too. Nothing and no one could fill the void you left. I tried to move on, I really did, but it's impossible. You're the person I love, and it took me so long to notice that. It cost me almost losing you completely."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. They both knew it wouldn't be easy, that there would be many things to resolve, but at that moment, all that mattered was that they still loved each other.

"I don't know what it's going to be like." Y/N resumed, her voice shaking as her eyes traveled from blue eyes to pink lips. "But I know I want to try, Chris. I want to rebuild what we lost. I can't let you go. Not again."

"I also want that." He responded quickly, his voice increasing in volume significantly, squeezing her hand tighter. "I know we made mistakes, but I want to fix them. I want you in my life, Y/N. I can't live without you. I don't want to."

The relief and joy that flooded Y/N's features were undeniable. For the first time in months, she felt like there was hope that they could find a way back to each other.

They spent hours talking, remembering the good times and acknowledging the mistakes of the past. They decided that they wouldn't rush things, that they would take it all one step at a time, but most importantly, they would be on this journey together.

When they left the cafe, hand in hand, they both felt that a new chapter was actually beginning. Maybe there were still obstacles to overcome, but they knew that as long as they had each other, they could face all of it. Their love, despite all the challenges, was strong and truthful, and that was all they needed to start over.

༻✦༺ 　༻✧༺　༻✦༺

My requests are closed, but my asks are always open ♡

And remember to treat people with kindness always!

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invisible-lint · 2 days

Text

Everything Could Be Okay: Chapter 3

Rhys x Tamlin's sister!reader

Summary: The mating bond reveals itself

Warnings: brief allusion to pregnancy loss again, nothing explicitly mentioned though!

Word Count: 2.8k

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2

You run down the hallway, ducking through a random door and shutting it behind you. You lean back against it, knocking your head against the wood. What is wrong with you? You cringe. Rhysand is probably thinking the same thing about you. For some inexplicable reason, you care what he thinks of you, and you’ve gone and made a fool of yourself.

You look around the mystery room and smile. You seem to have found yourself in a music room. One side of the room is occupied by a large piano, while the other side is a seating area where people must gather to listen. You walk over to the piano, running your hand along the glossy wood of the instrument, breathing in its scent. You pull the bench out, sitting in front of the instrument. You gently press a few keys, happy to find out that it’s well maintained. You had spent much of your life in the music room in your own home, losing yourself in music. Your brothers had often joked that they always knew where you were, because if you weren’t out wandering the gardens, you were hidden away playing the piano.

You stand, heading for a plush armchair and curling up in it. It was good to know this was here if you’d be spending so much time here. Perhaps you could get Feyre to sit in here with you so you could keep an eye on her. You yawn, exhaustion suddenly coming over you. You’re not sure you can remember where the room you were shown to is, and even less sure you want to try to find it, worried about seeing Rhysand again. So you stay curled up in the arm chair, comforted by the scent of the piano and let sleep claim you there.

When you awake, you’re covered by a blanket. You rub your eyes, wondering who had done it. You briefly wonder if it had been Rhysand, thinking about what he had done for you Under the Mountain. Even now, months later, you still thought about it. He had used his powers to give you pleasant dreams. It was so at odds with what you knew about him. A cruel male who was cruel just because he could be.

You stand and stretch, joints stiff from sleeping in the armchair. You glance out the window and determine you’ve probably missed most of breakfast. You might as well stay here for a little bit longer before going to find Feyre. You sit down at the piano, running a featherlight hand across the keys. You had no sheet music, but you’d been playing for so long you had plenty of your repertoire memorized. You close your eyes, launching into the song, muscle memory allowing you to find the right keys with no issue. You lose yourself in the music, playing song after song, time becoming meaningless.

When you finally finish, someone claps in the doorway. You jump up, startled, knocking the piano bench over.

“I thought when I found you in here that you had just found a random room to hide away in. I didn’t realize you were such a talented pianist. Although, I do believe I brought you here because you insisted on keeping Feyre company. Or was that just an excuse to get away from your brother?”

You take a deep breath, getting your temper under control before answering. “When I woke I figured breakfast was nearly over. So I thought I’d play a little bit and then find Feyre.”

“And why didn’t you want to come to breakfast? Are you avoiding me?”

“No.” Yes.

“Liar.”

“Am not!”

He chuckles. “If you say so.”

You huff, crossing your arms. “Well I do.”

“Feyre is in the library, practicing her letters. While the two of you are here, she is going to learn how to read. You know, I’m surprised. I know you helped Feyre Under the Mountain, so why stop helping her now?”

“You know nothing.” You take another deep breath, not wanting to have a repeat of last night.

“No? Enlighten me then.”

“I tried. I suggested to Tamlin that I help her learn to read and he shut me down. I thought she’d be more receptive if the idea came from him. But he didn’t think she was ready. So I dropped it. And then he proposed and Ianthe had her wedding planning. If you can even call it that. It was more like Feyre sits in the room while Ianthe makes all the decisions,” now that you’ve started, it's like you can’t stop. “How am I the only one in that damned court that can see she doesn’t want to marry him? I tried to get her out of it, told her that if she had changed her mind I would come up with some sort of excuse so she didn’t have to marry him. I was actually relieved when you showed up because then she wouldn’t be stuck with him and I could have more time to try to figure out a way to help her! She is so miserable there and she is going to end up trapped!”

“Just like you are?” It startles you out of your rant, and you start to bolt, embarrassed that you’ve overshared again, but Rhysand is faster, carefully catching you as you run by. He looks at you for a moment, frowning.

“Why do you do that?”

“Run away when I’m embarrassed? I believe it’s actually quite a common response, actually.”

He looks up, as if asking the Mother to grant him the patience to deal with you.

“That’s not what I meant. You lose your temper, say more than you mean to and run away.”

“Why do you care?”

“I don’t. I’m simply curious.”

“Liar.”

He chuckles. “Are you avoiding my question?”

“I don’t understand you, Rhysand. You act like this cruel, careless male, but then I catch glimpses of someone else.” You tilt your head to the side, examining him. “I don’t think you’re as cruel as you make people believe you are.”

“I still think you’re avoiding my question.”

You sigh, giving in, not entirely sure why. “Fine. If you’ll answer one for me.” He nods.

“Tamlin and I are both quick tempered. But while I’m more prone to verbal outbursts…” You fidget, not quite sure how to finish the sentence. Rhys tenses, rage filtering across his face for the briefest of moments. He looks over you as if looking for signs of injury.

“He’s never hurt me. Or Feyre. It’s usually taken out on the furniture.” You wince, thinking about it. “I can only think of what he may be doing right now…” He wants to ask more, but there’ll be time for that later. His instincts are screaming at him to reveal the bond so he can keep you in Night and protect you, but he ignores it, shoving it down.

“Now I believe you get to ask me a question.”

“Why did you use your powers on me Under the Mountain?” If he’s surprised by your question, it doesn’t show.

“You seemed to need the rest. I could see the pain you were in, some of it my fault, and there was something I could do about it.”

“But why?”

“Does there have to be a reason? Perhaps I had gotten tired of seeing so much cruelty in the 50 years I had been down there.” You chew your lip. There he is again, that male behind the mask of cruelty.

“May I ask you another question, or do I have to worry about you trying to run away again if you share too much?”

You give a breathy laugh. “You may, but perhaps you could let go of me?” He lets go of you, taking several steps back.

“Last night you said you’re trapped and miserable in Spring.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s a statement, not a question.”

He narrowly resists the urge to roll his eyes. One thing’s for sure Mor would love you if he ever got to introduce you to her.

“My question is was that always the case?”

You blow out a breath, fidgeting with the ring on your necklace. “It’s… Complicated. Yes and then no and then yes. Before I had Andras, my husband, I was. And then when I had him… That time was incredible. And far too short. And then after… I lost so much that it would have been hard not to be miserable, even if I didn’t hate it there.” Your free hand brushes over your stomach and you see as understanding, and for the briefest moment, pity shows on his face. It makes your temper flare. You are so tired of people looking at you like that.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

You scoff. “You know the look. The look that everyone gives me when they realize everything that I’ve lost!” You stalk towards him. He just watches you, surprised by this outburst. “I am so sick of that look! People find out and then they give me that stupid look! And then they know so they may not give me the look, but I can still see it there, just barely hidden.” You’re nearly chest to chest with him now, looking up into his face. “So don’t you dare start too.”

He whispers your name, staring into your eyes. You’re not sure why you do it. If you’ve well and truly lost your mind, or if something about the way he’s looking at you, the way he said your name, reminds you of Andras, but you kiss him. He hesitates for a moment, knowing he should pull away, that whatever reason you're kissing him has nothing to do with him, but your lips are as soft as they look, and suddenly he’s kissing you back, one hand in your hair, the other on the small of your back.

Just as suddenly as you had kissed him, you stop, backing away as if his touch burnt you.

That’s the moment when the mating bond makes itself known to you, snapping into place. You sink to your knees, a hand over your chest, tears burning your eyes. He crosses over to you, slowly, eyes never leaving your face. He takes your hand in his, brushing his thumb over the back of it. You sit there together for what may be moments or hours. "You don't have to accept it. The bond. I understand it may be... You’re not ready to move on." You can hear the pain in his voice, see it in his eyes. You shake your head.

"It's not that it's unwelcome. Just... Unexpected. Andras... I thought he was my mate. I felt it when he died. So I thought.... I'll need time. I don't know how much, but I don't want to reject it. At least not outright."

"I can do that. I can give you time. I've waited for this, waited for you, for nearly 500 years. And I'd wait 500 more if that's what you need." He presses a soft kiss to your knuckles.

"I'm not sure I'll need quite that long." You smile at him, giving an experimental tug on the bond, nearly gasping at the stars that light up in his eyes, knowing that you'd do nearly anything to get him to look at you like that again. You look away, stomach churning with guilt.

“Don’t go back to Spring. Stay here.”

“I can’t. I can’t abandon Feyre.” He tucks loose hair behind your ear, and you resist the urge to lean into the gentle touch.

“I understand… I don’t like it. But I understand. Just promise me something?”

“Hmm… It’ll depend on what you’re asking of me.”

He smiles. “Promise that if anything happens you’ll reach out down the bond. And either I or someone else will come to get you. And then we’ll figure something out for Feyre.”

“Counter promise, because I can winnow myself. If anything happens and I feel the need to leave I’ll come here with Feyre and reach out down the bond to let you know.”

“Counter promise accepted.”

“Good. Now I think I should go find Feyre.”

He nods. “Perhaps you should at least change first.”

“Is there something wrong with how I look?”

“No, you’re absolutely stunning. But you are wearing yesterday’s dress. And you slept in a chair.”

“I suppose you do have a point.” He stands, helping you to your feet.

“I am known to have one of those from time to time.”

“Rhysand?”

“Call me Rhys.”

“Rhys?”

For a brief moment he swears he could die a happy male, just listening to you say his name. “Yes?”

“I forgot where my room is.” He chuckles, leading the way. You follow him, chewing your lip as you think.

“I can practically hear you thinking, despite the fact that you have surprisingly good walls up. Would you like to share?”

“Surprisingly good?” You raise an eyebrow, trying to decide if you should be offended.

“Not a reflection on you, I'm surprised you were taught.”

“Tamlin decided I should be after the night you killed our brothers and father.” He grimaces, not because he regrets killing them, but because of any pain it may have caused you. You stop, putting a hand on his arm to stop him.

“I know what they did. I saw the wings. I understand. As much as we butt heads, I have been better off with Tamlin as High Lord. My father was not a kind male and I hate to think of the kind of marriage I would have been forced into. I have never held any ill will towards you for their deaths.” Rhys lets out a breath he hadn't even realized he had started holding.

“What about the garden?”

“I was angry about it for a long time. What I said to you Under the Mountain… I was being consumed by my grief. I had just lost so much and it felt like it was for nothing because we had all ended up there anyway. But I had stopped being angry at you for it a long time ago.” He nods.

“My mother and sister. Their wings…”

“My father had hung them in the study as trophies. When Tamlin became High Lord, he burnt them.”

He nods again, blowing out a breath through his teeth.

“What were you thinking about?”

“How I'm going to tell Feyre.”

You're not entirely sure how you might describe the look on his face, but it's clear that wasn't the answer he was expecting.

“Are you sure that's a good idea?”

“No. In fact it's probably a terrible idea. But nobody else tells her anything. And I'm not about to start keeping secrets from her. Plus if we may have to suddenly leave and come here, it's better for her to know why instead of having to explain it after.”

“I… suppose you have a point.”

You grin, teasing him with his earlier words. “I am known to have one of those from time to time.”

He laughs, the sound making your heart soar.

The two of you start walking again and he stops once you've reached the door to your room. You linger in the hall, not quite ready to leave him yet.

“Thank you.”

“Of course. I couldn't let you sleep in the music room all week.” You laugh.

“No, I suppose not. Although now that I know it's far enough away from the bedrooms that I won't wake anyone, I may be spending quite a bit of time there.”

“I could leave some sheet music in there for you. If you'd like.” You smile, eyes lighting up, and he already wants to be the reason you smile like that again.

“I would love that.”

“I'll put it on the piano bench then. I have an idea of a piece I think you might like.”

“I look forward to learning it.”

“I'll have someone bring you food while you get yourself ready to speak with Feyre.”

“Thank you, Rhys.” Once again, he appreciates the way his name sounds coming from your lips.

“Of course.” He hesitates for a moment, uncertain what to do, before lifting your hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to the knuckles.

You open the door as he walks away, stepping in and taking a deep breath. “Cauldron boil me…” You walk over to the deep bathing pool and turn the taps, allowing it to fill up, taking your hair out of the slept on hairdo from the day before. Once the tub is full of steaming water, you turn the tap off and strip, stepping down, settling into the water. Mother above… How were you going to tell Feyre that Rhys is your mate? And worse. How are you going to tell your brother?

A/N: And there it is! Chapter 3! I'm already working on chapter 4, so that one will probably be out later this week as well as hopefully a few other things! As always, requests are open, so feel free to send those on in if there's anything you'd like to see! I noticed that some of my taglist didn't work last time and I've hopefully fixed it this time!

Divider is by @tsunami-of-tears

taglist: @lilah-asteria @readingislife2006 @acourtofimagines @mistymoocow @irelanrose @darker-december @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @loving-and-dreaming @bravo-delta-eccho @sidthedollface2 @oucereeng @jesskidding3 @panther-girl-124 @jiarkives

#rhysand x reader #rhys x reader #rhys acotar #acotar #acotar fic #acotar fanfiction #acotar imagine #acotar x reader #acotar x you #maasverse #fanfiction #imagine

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k0juki · 3 days

Note

heyyyy!! trying my luck here😅

imagine a smoker!joost x non smoker!reader hanging out or smth, and joost just had a cigarette and tries to kiss the reader but since they don’t like the smell or taste of it they don’t give him a kiss😭😭😭 and then he gets all sad and starts pouting and the reader just giggles and stuff😭 just a lot of cuteness and fluff💗

also ps! you’re literally my favorite author who writes for joost!!!

A/n: someone is lucky🤞🍀 and that's you anon🫵

Kisses and cigarettes

Joost Klein x fem!reader

English is not my first language, so feel free to point out any mistakes or errors! Also the picture is not mine. Credit goes to owner!

Wc: 452

---

Joost leaned against the railing, a cigarette held loosely between his fingers as he took a drag, letting the smoke curl up into the evening sky. It was a long day for him, but you were here to help him with anything, and he was glad.

The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over everything, and he couldn't help but think how perfect the moment was. His eyes flicked over to you, sitting on the porch swing, a soft smile playing on your lips as you watched him.

With a final drag, Joost stubbed out the cigarette on the railing and made his way over to you. He could see the way your nose wrinkled slightly, a sure sign you weren't a fan of the lingering smell. But he hoped maybe this time you'd let it slide.

"Hey." he murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to your lips. You turned your head the last second, and his kiss landed on your cheek instead. "Joost, you know I don't like the smell." you said, trying to keep the teasing out of your voice. Just messing with him a bit.

He pulled back, eyes wide and a pout already forming on his lips. "But... I missed you." he said, his voice taking on a whiny edge that made your heart melt a little. He looked so crestfallen, like a puppy who'd just been told no.

You couldn't help but giggle at his expression, reaching up to cup his face in your hands. "Oh, Joost, you're adorable when you pout." you teased, pressing a kiss to his forehead instead.

He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away, though the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. "It's not fair." he muttered. "I just wanted one little kiss."

You laughed outright then, the sound bright and musical in the evening air. "Well, you can have as many kisses as you want." you stated, "as long as you don't smell like an ashtray."

Joost's pout deepened for a moment before he finally cracked a smile, his eyes softening as he looked at you. "Fine, fine," he said, leaning down to nuzzle his nose against yours. "I guess I'll just have to brush my teeth and freshen up for you."

You giggled again, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him down onto the swing beside you. "Now that sounds like a plan." you said, resting your head on his shoulder. "Besides, I love you more when you smell like you and not smoke."

He sighed contentedly, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "I love you too," he murmured. "Even if you are a bit of a kiss tease.”

---

A/n: sorry I wasn't here xdd I had finals, but now I'm free and ready to start writing again! Also my last post "Wolf in sheep's clothing" I spent so much time on it and I would love to if you give it try...:))🩷🩷

#x reader #k0juki's stuff 🩷#x female!reader #joost klein x fem!reader #stand with joost #joostice #joost klein #joost klein x reader #justice for joost #blurb #imagine #europa #europe #eurovision #europapa #joost klein x you

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utterlyotterlyx · 1 day

Text

The Time Travellers Husband

Rhys x Cassians!Sister!Reader

Summary - The gift of time travel was unique to you and you alone, the only thing is that you can't control where you go or when, or for how long.

Warnings - ptsd, trauma, angsttttttt, fluff, mentions and depictions of SA, Under The Mountain trauma

Word Count - 6.8k (unedited, don't come at me)

Based on this ask x

It was an odd feeling, to travel through time. The sensation of it was like you were swimming toward a tide break, desperate for oxygen that felt an infinite number of lengths away whilst battling the currents of time like they were rips in the ocean waves.

Reaching the destination had never been the issue, it had always been the disappearance, the blinker of your essence as you faded into oblivion for what felt like minutes to only return to your husband hours, days, or even weeks later.

No one understood it. Prythian had never been graced with a traveller before you, even Helion and Thesan had researched endlessly but returned to Rhys empty handed. All he wanted was to help you to control it, he knew the mental toll it often took on you considering how you sometimes travelled to the darkest of places and memories, most of which were never your own.

Nights had come and gone where he would have to cradle you in his arms, whispering sweet nothings into your ear whilst you cried from the nightmares that plagued you; of bloody battlefields and torture, both of which you'd have to endure until the Mother decided to send you back to your mate who was waiting for you in Velaris.

Rhys had always been fated to be yours, you were certain of it.

The pair of you had grown up together thanks to Cassian being your older brother by only a couple of minutes, he had been gifted the strength and agility of the gods whilst the Mother had sealed your fate long before you were both even conceived.

It had snapped for Rhys first, on your birthday 300 years ago. Mor had insisted upon throwing you and Cassian a joint surprise birthday party at the House of Wind, though she had told you that she had planned an intimate dinner for you all to make sure that you dressed as best as you could. As a thank you for everything you had done for them, from your incessant teasing to your bounding wisdom, Rhys had delved into his mothers trousseau and had hand-picked the most spectacular dress he or you had ever seen; though, he hadn't told you where he had gotten it, you were led to believe that he had it commissioned.

Rhys had kept it a secret from everyone, he didn't want to upset Cassian or ruin anything for you, he wanted it to snap for you on its own.

It only took a year for the bond to snap for you.

It had been one of the more warmer afternoons in Velaris, and you had been tending to the garden at the River House, planting your favourite shade of peonies into the earth when you felt the sensation. Cassian had returned to the garden to find that you had disappeared, leaving your tools buried in the soil and your scent drifting away in the breeze.

You had been transported to a shared memory, but the projection of your present-day body found itself stood behind Rhys, staring inward at the room buzzing with anticipation. Nerves were pouring from him as he fidgeted in his spot, whisky in hand and swirling it every moment his attention wasn't stolen by a passer-by muttering a greeting to their High Lord.

It was a night you remembered very clearly, but you weren't there to live it again through your point of view, you had been taken there to see it through his.

Looking toward the large double doors of the House of Wind, you watched as they opened to reveal both you and Cassian arm in arm. Cassian was wearing his usual lax trousers and open collared shirt, hair styled into a low bun with strays falling over his face; and then there was you, and you watched Rhys inhale sharply as his eyes landed on your frame, scanning you from head to toe whilst joyous shock consumed your angelic features.

The dress he had gifted to you had certainly been the right choice, it accentuated each and every curve and line of your body, hugging your delicious hips and exposing just the right amount of skin. And your wings, gods, they had fluttered and rustled with every compliment directed at your from a room teeming with whispers. The garment was the shade of newly born starlight, a cascade of fine diamonds had been sewn into the skirt and they flowed downward like lazy ocean waves at sunset. Light bounced off of you, your skin held a certain shimmer to it and the warm faelight was making you glow.

The brightest star in a sea of darkness. Everything felt dim in comparison.

It felt as though you were on the first row at the theatre, enthralled in the emotions of the moment; you examined Rhys closely, how his eyes trailed down your body and then to your face, and then they widened, and he stumbled backward, his fingers floating over that particular spot on his chest whilst the past version of you was none the wiser from her spot on the other side of the room, laughing and thanking Mor for all of the effort she had put in to make your birthday as special as possible.

As though you could see the golden thread winding itself around you, Rhys muttered a singular word to himself, a word that made your heart clench in its cage

Mate.

That night was just over a year ago. Why hadn't he said anything?

Before you could fathom an answer, you felt your essence be pulled back to the present, and you landed in the main living area of the River House feeling confused and conflicted, and betrayed to a degree.

Within moments Rhys was on you, standing at your side whilst your gaze bore into the ground, he could see your mind reeling, replaying whatever you had seen from whichever moment you had been taken to. The sky had grown dark beyond the window, telling you that the day had scurried by whilst you had been kidnapped by your power.

"Hey, hey, hey," Rhys cooed to you, trying to gently pull your mind away from the memory or future, "Where did you go, darling?"

Your brows twitched with every thought that flew through you and Rhys turned your body to face his own, resting his large hands on your arms and rubbing his thumbs softly against the skin he found there, lowering his eyeline to yours to try and capture your gaze.

Then you peered up at him, eyes colliding with pools of violet serenity, and it snapped, your own thread dancing outward to meet the end that had longed for it for so long and you gasped when it found its marker, "When were you going to tell me?"

Knowing what you meant due to the opening of the bond, Rhys' expression faltered, but he held onto you tighter, "I wanted you to find out on your own. The bond is a beautiful thing. I just wanted it to snap for you when you were ready."

Rhys' fingers reached for an escaped strand of hair, delicately tucking it behind your rounded ear in a way that made your wings shiver, "You've lied to me for twelve months."

He cringed, his fingers retracting from the shell of your ear, "It was more like avoiding the truth," you gave him a pointed stare, "Which I know isn't good enough. I'm sorry, y/n."

You'd be lying to yourself if you said that you hadn't wondered what a life with Rhys would look like, the High Lord was the most stunning male you had ever seen, and the way he carried himself in front of you and others was so alluring to the point that you often thought of him when you were alone in the confinements of your bedroom. Rhys had always respected you, he had always held a certain tone of humour with you that neither Cassian or Azriel were privy to, and he had always been the one to look out for you the most.

Despite being very well aware of your tactical prowess, Rhys did all he could to avoid sending you on missions, and when he did send you away, it was often on his behalf to other courts, he knew they adored you just as much as he did so much so that you would never truly be in any real danger.

"Say something. Please."

Worry had infected his bones at the possibility that you may not want him, and the longer you stood saying nothing the more tense he became, "My head hurts," and it did, not just from the information, but from the anguish travelling brought upon your body; Rhys knew that little fact better than anyone considering he often tended to you afterward.

A hand rested on the side of your face, his fingers curling around the back of your neck, "Let me look after you," Rhys visibly relaxed when you nodded, exhaustion settling into you and coursing down the bond.

Sweeping you into his arms, Rhys rested his cheek atop your head, inhaling the lavender of your shampoo as he carried you through the house that he had permanently moved into to be closer to you; he paced up the stairs and into your bedroom, laying you onto the pristine white sheets before finding his place beside you and pulling your body flush against his.

Lazily, you traced your fingers over his clothed chest, drawing small circles and tendrils over his heart, "What did you see?" Rhys asked you, his breath caressing your forehead and his digits curling into your hair in the way he knew brought you untold relief.

"Our birthday last year but from your point of view," your voice paused for a moment as you recounted the images in your mind, you craned your head upward to meet his nervous gaze like he knew that all it would take for his dreams to burn would be the mere action of you pulling away from him, "I saw how you looked at me from across the room when the bond snapped for you, I felt the air shift in a way. You were looking at me like I was the brightest star in the Prythian skies."

A ghosting smile quirked at the corners of his mouth, your voice was soft, void of any anger. Rhys dragged his thumb across your lips, resting it at the dimple in your cheek, "You are." Rhys' eyes drifted over your face, drinking in the fine lines of happiness that had embedded themselves at the corners of your eyes, "You are the star which points to home. You are my homeland, y/n. I think that you always have been."

Watching your gaze soften, he had to ask you, "Does the idea of me disgust you? The idea of us?"

A furrowed brow greeted him, but you shook your head softly, your cheek rubbing against the silk of his shirt, "How can I look away now that I have seen you?" Reaching to brush your fingers against his jaw, eye sparkling and brimming with the silent permission he had been waiting for.

In one swift but gentle motion, Rhys rolled you onto your back, cupping your face in his hands and hovering his lips a whisker away from your own. His breath fanned across your face, it was warm but heavy, he was overthinking it and what it would mean, but nothing would stop him from claiming you. Not even Cassian.

You pulled his eyes to meet yours, dragging him from the thoughts that plagued him, and like you were a spring in eons of desert, Rhys drank. Connecting his lips to yours was something he had only allowed himself to dream of, but nothing could have prepared him for how you tasted. Honeysuckle and sea salt, with the slightest hint of sweet spice. Rhys couldn't stop himself from deepening the embrace, running his tongue along your bottom lip and then darting it into your parted mouth, exploring every inch you would allow him to whilst curling the fingers of his free hand around your hip, his other resting at the back of your head.

Reluctantly, Rhys created a space between your lips, feeling himself losing control of his body the longer he was connected to you; he watched closely as your chest rose and fell in quick succession, the curve of your breasts grazing against his shirt and lips sinfully swollen from the onslaught of his adoration for you. He found his place beside you once more, pulling you to him so that your head rested on his chest, "Rest now. We can face the world tomorrow."

What you wouldn't give to go back to that moment. Everything had been so much simpler then. The new nerves and the oncoming anger from Cassian had been the only negativity in your world, though, your twin had taken the news much better than you had expected, he had only beaten Rhys once before the happiness for you had taken over.

If you were going to be mated to anyone, at least it was to the person who doted you and protected you at all costs.

It didn't take long until he was asking when the first babe would arrive.

It wasn't like you didn't want children with Rhys, it had been a topic that made you both excited, but you were also very happy with one another so had decided to not explicitly try for a babe, but if it happened then you would both be overjoyed. It took of mounds of pressure from your shoulders.

The mating ceremony itself had been beautiful, Rhys had truly spared no expense on the intimate ceremony where he had also sworn you in as High Lady of the Night Court in front of your family, and he had cried nearly as hard as Cassian when you saw you walking down the aisle in the dress that you knew belonged to his mother, the same one he had seen you in when the bond had snapped for him with some minor alterations, that being a lace veil that clipped into each loosely wound braid of your hair and matching gloves that kisses above your elbows.

The Inner Circle had succumb to the possibility that they wouldn't see you both for at least a month afterward. You were far too radiant for Rhys to allow from his sight, not only as his newly wedded wife, but also as his High Lady and the future mother of his children. You were exquisite.

Centuries passed and your love and devotion toward one another never waned, if anything it only grew, and you didn't think it possible that you could love anything else more than Rhys, and you were right.

There wasn't a single moment of the day where you didn't want to rip his clothes off and have him fuck you until you couldn't form coherent words, and he was always happy to oblige you. No matter what he was doing, whether working through stacks of paperwork in his office with hair messed from raking his fingers through it or relaxing in the living area after a long day, if you entered his space with that feline speck in your eye, he would be the one throwing everything aside to be pulling those mewls from your lips.

It was a love that Prythian would never see again, a love it would always search for and wither when it couldn't be found.

What you'd give to go back to that. Back to the time before Amarantha happened.

You remembered the feeling as though it happened only yesterday, the tidal wave of love and regret and sorrow, a pleading tsunami that you returned with your own, and you could almost see his sad smile, drowning in that feeling for a heartbeat longer before the bond went cold. Cassian and Azriel had burst into the room after hearing your screams all the way from the training ring at the House of Wind, finding you balled up atop the cold ground sobbing and clutching at the skin where your heart lay.

Azriel had moved to you first, his arms wrapping around your body and shadows peppering your tear-stained cheeks, he coaxed your ire from you, freezing as you told him that the bond had gone cold. It had only taken a few minutes for him to piece it together, of Amarantha no doubt trapping him below the mountain and him playing along in order to protect his court, his home, his y/n.

It had taken weeks for you to rise from the ashes of your bedroom, you had refused to move from the sheets that held his scent deep within them. But you were the High Lady of the Night Court, and Amren was struggling to lead the court on her own. Throwing yourself into your tripled duties was all that you could do, if Rhys ever came home, then that home had to be healthy and flourishing.

The citizens of Velaris pitied you more than they mourned the absence of their High Lord, you were the image of despair, pallid skin and a certain voidness to you usually bright eyes, though it didn't stop you from ruling over the court whatsoever. The only time when you would break would when you would be alone, and Cassian and Azriel couldn't allow you to wither away any longer so moved you into the House of Wind, leaving your once perfect home abandoned.

Before you knew it, 50 years had drawled by, 50 years without your mate and best friend. Life had tried to curl around you gracefully, to will you back into some form of enjoyment, and Azriel had coaxed you to accept the hand offered to you, so you did, but there wasn't a single moment that came and went that you didn't think of Rhys and what he was enduring Under The Mountain.

"Cassian, have you been to Windhaven lately? I need an update on the wing clipping laws we put in place." You entered the study, your pale blue dress dragging behind you from the pace of your steps, the crown growing heavy on your head.

It had always been something you and Rhys had spoken of, banning the archaically brutal practice of wing clipping in Illyria. Once upon a time you had almost been one of those young girls, pinned to the ashen soil with a blade a feathers touch away from taking the most sacred part of you. Luckily it never happened, and you had Cassian, Azriel and Rhys to thank for it.

Not looking up from the reports in your fingers, "Cass?" you gritted, too exhausted to deal with his silence. You had disappeared again that day, it had happened much more frequently over the last 50 years without Rhys by your side, but you weren't allowed to rest when you would return, there was always too much to do. "Cassian." Finally you looked up, finding your twin leaning against your desk with a shit-eating grin on his face and puffy eyes, "Are you going to answer me within the next two working minutes or shall I just go to Windhaven myself?"

"Oh how I have missed that voice."

Frozen in place, you felt your heartbeat rattle in your chest at that voice, the voice that haunted every moment you lived no matter if you were sleeping or walking the city aimlessly. Needing some form of confirmation you looked up to Cassian, your bottom lip wobbling when he nodded once at you and leaned back.

Then you felt him, his hands on your hips and nose grazing the curve of your shoulder, those two things alone making the reports in your fingers float to the floor. His chest met your back, his arms wound around your midsection, "Tell me that I'm not travelling right now."

A chuckle rumbled within the chest behind you, his lips pressed dainty kisses to your exposed skin, "I'm here. It's real."

A sob fell from your mouth and you turned in his arms, you buried your head into the nape of his neck and cried, and you felt bad for it, you weren't the one trapped in that place, but part of you had wished that you had been.

At some point during your crying and Rhys shushing you softly with his fingers running through your hair, Cassian had left the room, closing the door on his exit to give you both the privacy you so desperately needed. Another few moments passed and Rhys pulled away slightly, creating a small space between you so that he could hold your face in his hands and know that it was all real, that everything he had endured had been worth it just to have that moment.

"You look exhausted, my love," his thumbs caressed the skin of your slightly hallowed cheeks, his face lowering to level with your own. He didn't look much better than you did, his eyes were darkened with the things he had seen, his skin rough and pallid from the lack of sun, fine lines of worry and anguish ran along his forehead, "Cassian told me that you've been running this court on your own," he told you with a gentle smile, knowing how difficult it must have been for you to rule without him, to take on that load and also deal with your gift, "You've done so well, darling. I'm so lucky to have you."

Rhys pressed his lips to your forehead like a mother would a babe, loving and certain, and you couldn't help but sob again at the words and his touch, "I thought I wasn't going to see you again. I thought you had left me forever. When the bond went cold, and I couldn't feel you, I thought-"

"Hey. Don't think that. There is no reality where I wouldn't return to you, y/n," he rested his fingers at the base of your neck, relishing at the touch of your skin beneath his fingertips, "You are the only thing that kept me alive down there," his eyes glassed over, replaying memories he would soon rather forget, "I couldn't look into your eyes, but they were all I thought about. I memorised your face long ago, but it was a mirror for me there, or a prayer I had to recite nightly to make me remember who was waiting for me. I told you that you are my homeland, I will always come back to you."

Tears rolled down both of your cheeks when he kissed you, so full of need but also so hesitant, it was tender and light and warm, and you felt the floodgates of your bond crash open, your heart fighting against the tide of his relief and exhaustion, of his love and regret.

"But right now, I would like to bathe with my wife, and hold her until we both fall asleep. That's all I want, to hold you. Can we do that? Please?"

You had never been able to say no to Rhys and you weren't about to start, not when his eyes were weary and heavy with the turmoil of being away from you for so long, for witnessing and taking part in the acts that he had.

Carefully, you took his hand in yours, entwining your fingers and kissing his knuckles, "Of course we can," a gentle tug from you spurred him to move, and you led him through the House of Wind to your private chambers, mumbling to him that sleeping in your shared rooms had been too painful.

The tub was already steaming by the time you entered the bathroom, candles were lit and the window showed the golden valley you both adored so much as well as the snow-capped mountains. A once sultry act of undressing one another held a new meaning, you stripped one another bare with the upmost of care, taking time to touch one another as if you'd blink and it would all be gone.

Rhys lowered himself into the water first, almost groaning at the lavender soak that seeped into his muscles, and he held a hand out to you, positioning himself perfectly to accommodate you between his legs and running his fingers along the membrane of the wings you had done your best to tuck away.

"I love you so much," he kissed the glistening skin on your shoulder, trailing his lips from the spot up to the shell of your ear, and he smiled into your hair when you returned the sentiment, kissing his open palms and drowning in his power.

It didn't take long for exhaustion to settle within both of you, and once it had, Rhys lifted you from the tub and wasted no time in drying you and pulling one of his shirts over your head, pecking your nose once it was secured around your frame and nestling into bed with you for the most tranquil nights sleep he had gotten in 50 years.

It had taken Rhys a few weeks to feel comfortable enough to be intimate with you, he had never given you a reason, but you knew why. There had been many rumours of Amarantha's whore, and you could only imagine how he was feeling. Whether he didn't wish to admit it to you for fear of embarrassment or judgement, you weren't really sure, but you would never push him. Everything had to be done when he was ready and he alone.

You'd wait an eternity if that's what your mate needed.

Settling back into life in Velaris had been strange for him, he didn't know a single thing that had gone on in his court during his absence, but you walked him through it all. From your detailed reports, Rhys realised just how much love you had poured into his, your, city; orphanages had opened in the city offering education to the less fortunate, you had cracked down on the barbaric act of wing clipping so much so that there were very few cases reported in the last three years, and you had funded so many projects that would better the lives of all, from art galleries and theatres to community gardens, the Night Court was undeniably thriving.

"How have you accomplished all of this?" Rhys had asked you one morning as he scanned over all of the reports, flitting through the pages in wonder.

You had nervously picked at the skin around your nails at the question, "In all honesty I never really stopped working," his gaze met yours and he softened, opening his arms to you and pulling you into his lap, "I was scared that if I stopped doing all of this," you motioned to the papers littering the desk, "That the weight of your absence would consume me. I wanted to make you proud."

"I'll always be proud of you, my incredible mate and wife. You are amazing. Truly."

The darkness still gathered beneath his eyes, more nights than not you'd be awakened from slumber by his nightmares, and you would rise immediately to hold him, to remind him of where he was and that she was gone. It was clear that he didn't wish to burden you with the details, as usual, he was protecting you.

After a couple of months, Rhys felt like he was back to his old self, his usual banter with his brothers was rife and he was spending a lot more quality time with you whenever he had the opportunity. Everything had felt peaceful.

Until it wasn't.

The feeling you hadn't been consumed by since the day of his return had slowly settled in your gut, clawing and tearing at your essence, but it felt more sinister, like it wanted to ruin you. Crashing ceramic pulled Rhys from his book to see you in the doorway, your hands turning translucent and eyes full of terror as it travelled up your arms. Rhys was moving to you in an instant, trying to reach you before you disappeared entirely but he was too late, his fingers moving through you like you weren't even there.

It felt as though death itself had come to take you in that moment as you clawed your way to the surface.

You had landed in a place you didn't recognise, dark stone glistening with day old rain, hallways illuminated by lanterns and torches. The halls were wide, so tall that you felt tiny in comparison to them, and you knew where you were, where the Mother had decided to take you.

Under The Mountain.

A faint voice drifted through the air to you, pulling you toward it, and you followed the call, peaking into each room before you found the one where the sounds felt much more powerful. Though, nothing could have prepared you for what you were about to witness.

The room was dark, dressed in hues of black and wine red, faelight illuminated the walls lined with various dark artworks, a curved tub sat to the left, and in the centre was a large four poster bed, and on that bed was your husband and that creature of a woman you knew to be Amarantha.

Rhys' eyes were closed as he thrusted into her, his brow furrowed and face flashing with pain and remorse, you covered your mouth to conceal your gasp, forgetting that neither of them could see you. Amarantha lay beneath your husband, moaning and raking her talons down his spine, breaking the skin and grinning at the blood sweeping across her lips; her legs were wound around his waist, pushing him deeper into her with every rock of his hips.

"Tell me, Pet," she drawled, rolling him onto his back and sinking down on him, riding his cock and muffling her delight at the feeling, "How do you think your precious wife would feel if she knew what we did each night?" Rhys visibly tensed, "Do you think that she would still love you? Do you think that she would still want to be wed to you?"

Everything within you was telling you to look away, but you couldn't.

It was a question that Rhys couldn't answer, mostly because he didn't want to think about what you would do if you knew, which was the reason why he hadn't told you.

Tears streaked down your face, dripping onto the stone cold floor with every roll of her hips, "Who would want to be wedded to a cheating whore?" Amarantha's talon dragged down the column of his throat, "Do you not think that she deserves so much better than a male who would allow this?"

A moment of silence passed from Rhys, a silence that was filled with her moans as she neared her release, "Yes, I think that she does."

The words broke your heart, that your mate truly believed that you deserved better than what he had done, the things she had made him do. Each night she tormented him, made him submit to her against his will, and told him that you wouldn't want him when she was done.

With that soul-tearing admittance, Amarantha's movements jolted around him, her talons tugged at her hair as her moans climbed and she rode out her release, and once she had slowed, she wasted no time in removing herself from your mate and pulling a robe over her alabaster skin, smirking to him wordlessly before padding right past you on her exit.

It had all been to protect his home from her, and by extension, you. And that fact made you feel sick to your stomach, so sick that you felt the bile rising upward. Rhys had endured the unspeakable to protect his court and family, he knew what Amarantha would do if she got her hands on any of you, but it would be you who would suffer the most, and you knew that Rhys would stop at nothing to avoid that.

As soon as she was far enough away, you watched Rhys crumble; he perched on the edge of that large four poster bed with his head buried into his palms, loud, painful sobs causing his body to tremble and quake. His pain roared through him, "I love you," you rushed to him, you tried to reach for him but your fingers passed right through his body that was covered by a thin onyx sheet, "I love you," he repeated but more strained, he looked to the ceiling, his cheeks stained with his anguish and guilt, "I'm so sorry, darling. I'm so sorry."

"Rhys, please," your broken voice pleaded, but he couldn't hear you, no one ever could when you travelled, you were a simple bystander in these types of memories, "I love you."

The loud sobs of your mate continued, he wrapped his arms around himself, it had been the only thing to bring him comfort, and it was clear that he was imagining that it was you holding him and not himself. Rhys carried on apologising to the skies, hoping that his sincerity would reach you, hoping that you knew just how much he loved you and how much he would endure to keep you safe from her.

You weren't sure how long you knelt before him on that cold stone floor, telling him that everything would be alright, that no matter what happened you would never stop loving him whilst your own sobs broke your heart at the sight of your mate looking so defeated and worthless.

Only when that memory began to fade did you realise that the Mother was done with you, that she deemed you enlightened enough to return you to your home.

You landed with a thud, your knees crumpling beneath the weight of your body making you a blubbering mess on the floor. Marred hands found you instantly, shaking your shoulder softly until you found their owner, hazel pools of worry sketched over your face, his shadows frantically weaving between one another with panic. Sound had become muffled, like you were in a daze, you faintly knew that Azriel had called out to someone, likely telling them to fetch your husband as your focus honed in on him, "Where did you go, y/n?" Azriel had never looked so distressed, "You've been gone for three weeks."

Three weeks.

Rhys must have been going insane.

All you could do is cry and fall into his arms, the vision of your mate causing your body to shake, and Azriel folded you into his embrace, rubbing circles into your back, "I was Under The Mountain," you told him between sobs and he froze, like he knew what you had seen, "I'm going to throw up."

Another presence entered the room and moved to the two of you, an angelic touch graced your lower back and a bowl appeared before you, her fingers tugged your hair from your face as you hunched over and emptied the contents of your stomach, "It's alright," Mor cooed to you, rubbing your back to ensure you had gotten out what you needed to, curtly telling Azriel to meet Rhys and Cassian before they entered and saw you in such a position.

Mor held you as you sobbed, your guilt eating you from the inside out from knowing that Rhys had endured all that pain and suffering and abuse to keep you all safe, to protect you from the devil incarnate.

It didn't take long for the doors to open once more, Rhys took one look at your coiled frame, and the bowl to your left, and strode over to you, sliding onto his knees and gathering you in his arms. Knowing you wouldn't be able to tell him what exactly it was that you saw, you felt him caress your mental shields, asking for permission to enter, and you allowed it, you allowed him to sift through the images and felt his grip tighten around you.

Rhys scooped you into his arms and didn't say a single word to anyone on your exit, he carried you to your shared bedroom at the House of Wind, the same place you had accepted the bond centuries prior, and settled you onto the edge of the bed, kneeling before you and kissing your knuckles.

"I'm sorry that she did that to you," tears flowed down your face, landing on the backs of his hands, "I'm sorry that you had to do that to protect us."

Surprise settled onto his face at your words, like he wasn't expecting anything of that nature to leave your lips, "I'm sorry that she made you believe that I wouldn't love you because of it. I do love you, more than you'll ever know. Nothing would ever be able to take me from you."

Rhys picked you up, wrapping your legs around his waist and perching on the space where you had been seated only moments before; he peered up at you, his eyes the lightest shade of violet you had ever seen them, "Don't apologise for something that wasn't your doing," he wiped your tears, "I would do it all again if it meant that you would be safe, I'd endure the most wicked of punishments to keep you healthy and alive."

"I don't want you to ever feel like that again."

"I won't. I'll never leave you, not until death finds me and even then I will cling onto life with everything I have left so that I'll be able to find you in the next. It's always been you, and it'll always be you. There is nothing that can take me from you, I would burn the world to ash if anyone ever tried it, do you hear me?"

Rhys knew how hard it had been for you even if you hadn't told him yourself. It had been Azriel who had confided in Rhys about your mental state over the years, how you struggled to sleep and that when you did you were haunted by his loss, how you had travelled more often and for longer periods of time than before and how you always returned to them exhausted and little more broken than the last time. Rhys had been told how hard the entire Inner Circle had to work to contain you, to make sure that you didn't journey to Under The Mountain yourself and get yourself tortured and killed right before his eyes.

Desperate to hear your voice, Rhys continued on, "You and I are entwined for eternity, my love. Our life is going to be full of wonder and joy, that is what we fight for. In 100 years when we have our own babe and a life of serenity, I'll know that everything we went through was worth it, to have a chance to create the life we always dreamed of, the life we spoke of before the bond snapped and we were just Rhys and y/n dreaming about the future."

Rhys' fingers ran through your hair, pulling all of the tension from your body in the exact way he knew that you needed, "Tell me how much you love me."

Your palms rested flat on his chest, his heartbeat thumping through the skin to feel you, and he smiled softly, "I love the way your skin feels beneath mine," his arms pulled you closer into his chest, his chin rested atop your breastbone and his eyes bore into yours, "I love the little noises you make in the night when you're getting comfortable, and the little content sighs when I wrap my arms around you. I love the sound of your voice and your laugh. I love your truth and wisdom, and how you've never been afraid to do what is right despite the consequences. The world bores me - it bores me and irritates me when I'm away from you. You're the only thing that makes this life worth living. I love you, I love you more than our insanely irritating family," a gentle laugh passed through your lips, and you sniffled, "I love you more than this court or my power, I love you more than life itself, because what is the meaning of life if you aren't in it?"

"Rhys?" He hummed in question, still staring deep into your soul, "Love me. Please." It was a whisper, one you weren't quite sure he had heard, but he nodded gentle and placed you onto your back, ensuring that there were enough pillows beneath your head before he lowered his lips to meet yours.

Rhys made sure that he showed you how much he adored you and everything that you had given him, his lips covering every inch of your skin in a night filled with passion and the purest or adoration. And, unbeknownst to either of you in that moment, it seemed that your collective dreams were going to come true a lot sooner than you thought.

Author's Note

Brb crying x

(Also happy 1k followers besties, my first Rhysie fic is here for the occasion)

#acotar imagine #acotar #acotar fanfiction #maasverse #fanfiction #imagine #rhysand #rhys x reader #rhys acotar #rhys x you #rhys x y/n #rhysand x reader #rhysand x y/n #rhysand x you #cassian #azriel acotar #mor acotar #amren

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annmaximoff18 · 3 days

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Y/N: You know that voice in your head that keeps telling you it's going to go wrong?

Loki: I don't.

Y/N: That explains a lot.

#loki x reader #incorrect marvel quotes #tom hiddelston loki #tom hiddleston #loki series #loki laufeyson #loki odinson #loki #imagine #headcanon

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jordyn14 · 2 days

Note

Request: Teenage Girl Dad Joe

him meeting his daughter's first boyfriend, who also plays football in high school as a quarterback

You’ll always be my little girl | Joe Burrow

Pairing: Joe burrow x fem first person reader

Words: 3632

Notes: this one was so fun to write, thanks for the request! I hope you enjoy! 🫶🏼🫶🏼

Taglist: @wickedfun9

Today was the day Joe met his daughter’s boyfriend for the very first time since he was taking her out on a date, and to say that nerves were high from every side was an understatement. From the very start of finding out that I was having a girl, Joe always preached about how he always wanted to be a girl dad, but wasn’t ready. The part he wasn’t ready for was the fact that one day, his precious little girl would turn into a teenager who was going to be interested in boys, and he didn’t like that one bit.

Joe thought he had so much time and that he would be prepared for when the day finally came, but it’s very evident that even now, he is very ill prepared for this. Part of me felt bad though. I mean he couldn’t help it. His daughter is going to be going on a date for the very first time and there’s nothing he can do. She’s hung out with the boy numerous times after school and did typical things people do together when they have a crush on each other, but nothing major like this. What he can’t stand is the fact that he can’t go to make sure she’s safe and he obviously can’t stop them from going, though he begged me to lie about having plans that we forgot about.

“Mom, can you please make dad behave? What if he intimidates Brady so much that he decides he doesn’t want to be my boyfriend anymore?” Ryan asked me as she looked through her closet, deciding on what to wear. Ryan wasn’t nervous about their first real date since they’ve been friends since they were in middle school. She wasn’t nervous for riding in Brady’s car for the first time and she wasn’t nervous that it wouldn’t be a good first date. She was nervous that her dad, who she loves so extremely much, would ruin the whole thing and drive the boy that she has had the biggest crush on for years away.

I sat on her bed and swung my legs back and forth, smiling at all of the pictures of friends and family she has in her room. My favorite picture was the one we took together at Ohio State when Ryan was born. Yes, Ohio State. When Joe and I met in High school, we had the perfect little relationship built around trust and loyalty. Then one day, we got pregnant. Being pregnant at 19 was terrifying, but it was the most incredible thing to ever happen to the both of us. Though we were terrified of being parents, we accepted it and when she was born, we were on top of the world.

“Your dad won’t scare him away, I promise. He’s happy for you.” I said in more of a question tone. I knew Joe was happy for his daughter. He was happy that she was going on her first ever date at the age of 16 and had her first real boyfriend, but it still made him nervous. “See? You say that like he’s not happy. What if he ruins this, mom?” She asked me and hung her shoulder low, a defeated look on her face. I tilted my head and then patted on the bed next to me, wanting her to come over and sit by me. With a sigh, Ryan walked over to me and plopped herself down on the bed next to me.

I wrapped an arm around her and she leaned into me and rested her head on my shoulder. “Your dad is just nervous, and that’s understandable, right? Not only is he meeting your boyfriend who is about to take his daughter away from him for a few hours, but you have to remember that we got pregnant at 19 and you’re only 3 years younger.” I said. Ryan looked up at me with a shocked expression on her face and shook her head. “Ew, mom. I’ve told you a million times that I’m waiting for marriage, I would never. Does he not trust me?” She asked me.

I laughed a little bit at her quick response to tell me she was once again waiting till marriage. “It’s not you that he doesn’t trust sweetheart, It’s Brady. But once he see’s that he’s harmless and a sweet boy, he’ll love him just as much as I do.” I said. The only reason I’ve met Brady before is because I go to all of the Friday night games with Ryan so she can see Brady play football since she doesn’t have her drivers license yet. Joe hasn’t met him because if he’s not at home, he’s at practice or games being the starting quarterback for the Bengals at 35 years old. Even though we’ve talked a lot about retirement, he thinks he still has a few more years left. It works for me though since I absolutely love watching him.

“Can you go talk to him and try to get him to be as nice as possible? Maybe tell him that we can all watch SpongeBob when I get home from the movies?” She asked me. I rubbed her arm and with a little smile, nodded my head and got up off of the bed. “I’ll try my best. But really sweetheart, try not to worry. It’ll be fine.” I said and left her to get changed into her little dress that she picked out a few months ago for when Brady finally built up the courage to ask her out.

Brady and Ryan have Been friends since middle school and despite them obviously having feelings for each other, never admitted those feelings. Throughout their freshman and sophomore year they always hung out and I always drove her to his house, but they were just friends. But, a few weeks ago, Brady finally admitted that he’s had feelings for her for a long time, and the rest is pretty much history.

I headed out of the room and then down the stairs. As I turned to walk down the stairs, I saw Joe sitting on the couch, hunched forwards. Both of his fists were clenched and so was his jaw, and his expression was tense and serious. As soon as he heard me walking down the stairs, he turned his head to the right to look at me and when we made eye contact, he just sighed and shook his head. “Oh Joey. This is a good thing. You knew this day would come.” I said.

As I walked around to the front of the couch, I tried to study Joe’s expression and read him, but he looked so standoffish. There was absolutely no way he could greet Brady looking like that. When I sat down next to him and crossed my legs, Joe placed one hand on my thigh and gave it a small, unsure squeeze, but never looked over at me. I then put my arm around him and rubbed his back a little bit. “I know. It’s just hard, that’s all.” Joe said. Frowning a little bit, I nodded and kissed the back of his neck. “I know it is. It’s hard to see her getting older, but it’s so rewarding.” I said, continuing to rub his back. “That’s not why this is hard for me.” Joe said.

“Talk to me about it then,” I said and patted his thigh with my other hand, “because your daughter is up there freaking out because she thinks you’re going to scare Brady away.” I said with a small laugh. Joe let out a sigh and leaned back against the couch, so I repositioned myself so I was facing him and I tucked my legs under me. “I know I’ve never met him before, but boys these days are stupid and disrespectful. I don’t want her to go through that, ever.” He said. I frowned a little bit but tried to still be cheery. “Brady is a respectful young man, Joe. Once you meet him you’ll see.” I said, trying to redirect him slightly.

I get why he’s unsure about this. The most important person in his life is going to be going out with a boy he’s never really met before and he’s nervous. “I was a teenage boy once too. I know how they think. And a lot of us are dicks,” Joe said and looked over at me this time, “boys want to know what’s under a girls clothes. I don’t want anyone thinking that way about my daughter.” I sighed a little bit and tried my best to assure him that Brady was a good boy and that they’be been friends forever, but I didn’t know what to say. I’m not a guy. I don’t know what they think about girls or what they want to do to girls.

The only thing that I could say to possibly make him feel better was, “do you know all of those ufc moves you taught ryan? Our daughter is going to be perfectly fine.” I said. “I’m serious about this.” He said with a small glare, thinking I was trying to be funny. “You think I’m joking but I’m not, she can be scary and mean when she want’s to.” I said. Joe chuckled a little bit, thinking to all the times they’ve practiced ufc moves on each other. Even if he doesn’t want to admit it, Ryan can defend herself. “Plus She’s been raised around nfl players her whole life, she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself.” I said.

Joe leaned forwards and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer to him. I let out a little laugh as he practically placed me on his lap. “I know, I know. But I swear, if he even tries anything, I’m going to fuck him up.” He said. I smiled up at him before leaning forwards and placing a kiss on those pink lips. “I wouldn’t expect anything different. But since he hasn’t done anything wrong, please try to be civil.” I said. “I will be.” He said.

With a little smile, Joe leaned forwards and started to kiss my neck. I let out a small sigh, but just as he started to kiss me, I heard footsteps on the stairs. “Really? Get a room, please.” Ryan said with a small laugh. I turned around to look at her and saw the most disgusted face in the entire world. With a laugh, I scooted off of Joe’s lap and onto the couch next to him before I stood up. Joe followed after me and looked at his daughter in her dress.

“You’ll be doing that with Brady soon enough, don’t worry.” I joked with her. Brady just looked even more disgusted since her father was right next to me to hear that. I turned to look at Joe as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You are really not helping.” Joe said through squinted eyes.

As if on queue, I heard Brady pull into the driveway and excitedly looked over to Ryan who looked at me and then Joe, giving me a worried look. Before I walked to the door, I mouthed to her, ‘don’t worry, I talked to him,’ and then excitedly walked to the door. To be honest I was ready for Ryan to go on her first ever date and for Joe to meet her first ever boyfriend. I knew this time would come one day and now that it’s here, it’s exciting. I feel like I was just a 16 year old girl going on a date with Joe for the very first time. Granted, I hope Ryan doesn’t get pregnant in college, even though getting pregnant was the best thing to ever happen to me since it gave me Ryan.

As I walked to the door with Joe and Ryan following after me, I heard a knock on the door, so I opened it up and was met by Brady’s huge smile. “Hello Brady, it’s so good to see you again. How are you?” I asked him and let him come inside. “I’m doing really good Mrs. burrow, especially since I get to take Ryan on a date.” Brady said and looked over at Ryan. Immediately, I could see him start to blush as he looked at her.

I couldn’t help but think about Joe and how he couldn’t stop blushing on our first date. He even blushes now every time he looks at me. “Oh wow, you can call me by my first name, Mrs. burrow makes me feel old. It reminds me of my mother in law.” I joked with him, getting a laugh out of him as well. I could tell he was nervous, but he was doing surprisingly well given the fact that he was meeting Joe for the first time.

As soon as Brady stepped inside, I shut the door since I didn’t know how long it would take and watched as Brady took a few steps towards Joe. “It’s great to meet you, Mr. Burrow. Ryan talks about you a lot in school.” He said and shook Joe’s hand that was extended out towards Brady. I looked over at Ryan during their first encounter and gave her a little shrug and she just gave me half a smile. At least it was going good so far. “I hope all good things,” Joe chuckled, “It’s good to finally meet you.” Joe said.

I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding in and smiled at the both of them. Then, out of nowhere, Joe said, “can I speak to you privately? It won’t take more than a few minutes.” My eyes shot up at Joe and then Ryan who looked terrified of what her dad was going to say to Brady. Was he going to threaten Brady? Or try and scare him away? Oh shit. I could’ve sworn this thing was going to go good and he was going to behave himself. If he takes Brady in there and gives him the talk about ‘if you hurt my daughter I will fuck you up,’ like he said he was going to do a million times, I am going to kill him.

Brady looked to Ryan quickly and then back to Joe with a hesitant nod before Joe signaled to the living room. “Can you both wait in the kitchen?” Joe asked me. Brady walked past him and to the living room and Ryan slapped her forehead and walked to the kitchen. I walked over to Joe before following Ryan and glared up at him. “I swear, if you scare that boy away, I will kill you.” I whispered to him. “I’m not going to scare him away. I want to get to know him a little and try to get him to be less scared of me. He might’ve put on a brave face, but he was shitting bricks, believe me.” Joe said before turning around and walking to the living room where Brady already was.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself a little and then went into the kitchen where Ryan was. “What’s going on?” She asked me nervously. I put my hands up a little bit to calm her down and then leaned on the counter opposite of her. “He’s trying to get to know him so he isn’t so nervous around him.” I said. Ryan raised an eyebrow up at me and her mouth hung open. “What? Get to know him? I thought he’d be all uptight and shit.” She said. “Right? I guess we both don’t know him.” I laughed. I could see the worry and tension leave Ryan’s face as she started to calm down and let herself take a breather. And here we thought Joe was about to ruin everything.

“So, do you think he likes Brady?” She asked me with a slightly weary smile on her face, not knowing whether or not her dad likes the boy she is about to go on a date with. “Yes and no. I think he knows that Brady is a nice boy, but no because he’s taking you on a date. No matter how old you get, your dad’s always going to worry about you.” I said, giving her a small smile. She sighed while nodding and then walked over to me and stood next to me. Once next to me, she leaned on the counter like me and then rested her head on my shoulder. “I know. I’m glad I got good parents.” She said and looked up at me. I stuck out my bottom lip while looking down at her and wrapped my arm around her. “You’re not too bad yourself, kid.” I joked with her.

After about 5 minutes, I could hear Brady and Joe walking towards the kitchen before Joe peaked his head in and said, “we’re all done. You ready to go?” Joe asked Ryan. Ryan excitedly looked up at me and then to Joe. I watched as Ryan nodded quickly and then headed towards Joe who turned around and walked back towards the door as we followed him. “Thank you so much again, Mr. Burrow, I’m really looking forward to Sunday, sir.” Brady said while looking up at Joe, then to Ryan. I couldn’t help but smile at the way Brady’s cheeks flushed a light shade of red while looking at our daughter. It reminded me so much of Joe and how his cheeks and ears always flush red when he see’s me.

“Please, call me Joe. Why don’t you go wait in the car for a second while I talk to my daughter.” Joe said with a smile. Brady reached out his hand to shake Joe’s hand, so Joe reached forward and grabbed ahold of his hand, giving him a firm handshake. “Alright, Joe. She’s in very good hands, and we’ll be back before her curfew.” Brady said. I raised my eyebrows slightly at how professional Brady was being right now and then looked over to Ryan who also looked kind of shocked. I could tell she was extremely relieved by this whole thing. “That’s what I like to hear,” Joe chuckled slightly, “it was really nice to meet you, Brady.” Joe added in. “You too Mr. burrow-I mean Joe.” Brady said with a smile and then turned around and left.

I stood off to the side with my hands on my hips and smiled up at Joe as he turned to face Ryan. “Dad…you are amazing. Thank you so much.” Ryan said and walked towards her dad. Joe started to laugh when Ryan wrapped her arms tightly around Joe and buried her head in Joes chest. Joe wrapped his arms around Ryan and then glanced over at me. I gave him a small smile and nodded, happy with how this turned out. “Of course, Ryan. Just know that no matter what, I’m always here for you, and I love you,” Joe said and put both of his hands on Ryan’s shoulders and gently pushed her back so he could look into her eyes, “you’ll always be my little girl no matter how old you are, you know that, right?” Joe said. “I know, dad, and I love you too, no matter how old you are.” Ryan laughed at the last part and stood on her tippy toes. Just like always, Joe leaned down so Ryan could place a kiss on his cheek, and then she excitedly jumped backwards. “Wish me luck!” She giggled and started running out of the door.

Joe and I came together by the front door where we watched Ryan run to Brady’s car. Brady was leaning on his car and when he saw Ryan, he walked to the passenger side door and opened it up for her. Joe wrapped his arm around me, so I leaned into his side and rested my head on his shoulder. “What’s Sunday by the way?” I asked. “I invited him to the game so he could be up in the suite with you and Ryan and meet my parents. I figured it was a chance for them to hang out some more.” Joe said while smiling down at me. “You honestly handled this much better than I thought you would.” I smiled up at him and kissed his shoulder. All along I thought this would be some dumpster fire and he would embarrass Ryan. I guess I should’ve given him more credit.

“Yeah, well they remind me of us when we first started going out. Everyone deserves a first love and I’m glad that Brady’s the one she chose. He’s a good kid.” Joe said. “They remind you of us? Well let’s just hope history doesn’t repeat himself and we become grandparents in a few years.” I joked with him. Joe immediately pushed me to the side slightly and sealed his eyes shut, punching the bridge of his nose. “Don’t even fucking say that, what the hell?” Joe said and then looked down at me. I laughed and then pushed him right back. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” I giggled and got into a fighting position, making Joe laugh. “Get over here.” Joe said and grabbed my hand, pulling me to him. Once I got to him, he moved me in front of him and wrapped his arms around my neck. Reaching up, I rested both of my hands on his arms and watched as Brady and Ryan drove off. “There she goes.” Joe said with a sigh. “She’ll be back.” I said and kissed his arm.

#joe burrow #joeburrow #cincinnati bengals #nfl #joe burrow bengals #joe shiesty #joey b #bengals #joey burrow #joe burr #joe x reader #joe #joe burrow fic #joe burrow fan fic #joe burrow imagine #joe burrow x reader #nfl imagine #imagine #nfl fan fiction

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jo-com · 10 hours

Text

𐙚‧₊˚📒✩ ₊˚ ➛ Cousins?

Max Verstappen x Fem!reader

Summary: Having similar features could be such a burden sometimes— people tend to mistake you for his cousin.

Genre: Fluff and a bit of possessiveness

Note: Grammatical errors and such

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ➛ My Masterlist

────── ─ ₊˚.🎧 ✩｡☕ ─ ──────

It was yet a sunny day at Miami— the sun emitted a warm breeze that spread across the grounds of the paddock. People were glistening at the profound heat that ran from the lower through the upper part of their bodies.

The bustling crowd that sweated in every inch of their being, stayed under the peak of the sun— it was all going to be worth it once they see the long awaited race.

As if on cue, the Max Verstappen slowly got out of the vehicle he currently rode in and along with him was a petite young lady that oddly resembles him.

They had similar features and wore the same smile; at first they thought that it was his sister but the longer they stare it was just merely impossible to be his sister.

Murmurs and whispers could be heard from around the pit— the question still remained, “who is she?”

After racking their brain for a while they finally concluded it to her being his ‘cousin’.

…

It was your first time going there and you’ve already caused quite the scene. You didn’t know whether to be proud of yourself or not— but this day isn’t about you, it was about Max and you wanted nothing more but show your adoration and how proud you are of him.

So you tried laying low. Well you tried. Drama just keeps following you wherever you go.

It wasn’t your fault, right?

…

As you walked besides him; your hand nestled in the tight embrace of his biceps. You could here the the sound of people gossiping.

The two of you never went and announced your relationship. You guys wanted it to be lowkey and stayed out of the f1 gossip headlines.

To add to that, you were to busy to come to his other races, people don’t know what you look like or who you are.

Speculations about him having a girlfriend were there but was never confirmed due to lack of evidence, but they had their suspicions. They just didn’t know that it’s you.

As you guys walk aimlessly around, you then come to a stop when one of the McLaren drivers approached you.

His orange jacket stood among the crowd. Along with his child like grin that spread across his face.

Max glared at him with cold like demeanor, “what do you want lando?” He asked with a hint of annoyance.

“Well i am here to introduce myself to this fine lady over there” he smiled cheekily and gently grabbed your hands and brought it up to his lips.

You could feel max getting tensed from the drivers sudden action, you were also caught off guard but with a gentle smile you took back your hand, “Nice to meet you, i am y/n.”

Before lando could speak further, Max stood infront of you; blocking your view of lando as he towered over that poor man.

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll be going now” he spat, his voice clear with anger.

Lando could felt the immense pressure— without a word his body consciously stepped aside.

With a relive sigh, the two of you walked away, “Whew that was weird”, you muttered, shaking off his gesture like it was nothing.

Max only hummed in response. He didn’t want to show it but it was pretty obvious that it affected him big time.

As you two continued to walk, not even 5 minutes in, another one of the drivers we’re already walking towards you.

“George Russell, nice to meet you” he spoke. His hand presented in front of you, ready for you to shake.

You were about to go for it when suddenly, max took the initiative and reciprocated it himself. His grip on George’s hand were tight— you could tell from his sudden change of expression.

“Uh i am y/n nice to meet you too” you chuckled dryly, trying to ease the tension that surrounded the three of you.

“Max let go”

George shook his head vigorously, “yes max please let go” he pleaded, you could see how his eye’s state to glistened. Was he about to cry?

“Uhh max let go now” you gasped, seeing George’s hand look red and crush. Damn what exercise does this dude do.

You were about to apologize to him when you felt your whole body being dragged.

You spared George a quick glanced and mouthed a ‘sorry’, you weren’t sure whether he saw that or not— he was too busy clutching his hand to try and make the pain lessen.

…

The whole afternoon, whether it were pr, staffs, or his fellow drivers. People hitted on you like you were some kind of magnet that attracts people. Pulling them in closer to your aura.

And with that Max was pouting the whole time, seeing as many people talked to you one by one. It was adorable seeing him like that, well to you it was to him, let’s just say it wasn’t a blast for him.

“As soon as we get home, we’re announcing our relationship stat” he spoke, his tone laced with determination.

You let out a soft giggle and intertwined both your hands, “whatever you say my big baby.”

…

Hope you guys like that, it’s been sitting in my drafts so i decided to just finish it!! 💕

#imagine #fanfic #oneshot #f1 imagine #f1 x reader #formula 1 #formula 1 fanfic #formula 1 imagine #formula 1 x reader #formula 1 x you #red bull f1 #f1 x you #f1 fic #f1 fanfic #f1 #max verstappen x reader #max verstappen #max verstappen x you

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cosycafune · 7 hours

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FIRST TIME PARENT

Satoru’s a little confused with taking care of his daughter, but it’s his first time as a parent, so scrutiny isn’t something he’ll allow on himself. after all, everything’s a learning experience.

synopsis of acts: vomiting, cuddling, fluff, postpartum, first-time parents. satoru gojo, father au.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Satoru’s curious. Curious at the little, crying girl that’s biologically his own. Sure, he’s married to you, supported you through your pregnancy, but seeing the aftermath of your pregnancy left him with a whirlwind of thoughts. Protecting his little Aiko flooded his mind, as how can a little baby so precious adorn this flawed world.

Naturally, he couldn’t help put gently watch his slumbering newborn — before glancing back at a sleeping you in never ending awe. Awe he had once been too afraid to muster up before he had met and fallen in love with you. An irreversible fondness that continues to guide and coddles him consistently; Satoru loves you with all the might he takes to breathe.

However, he turns his gaze towards a crying Aiko — longing to soothe her to not wake you up. After all, you had just given birth and you’re awfully sore. Sore in a way Satoru doesn’t want to interrupt, even if it meant sacrificing everything of his willpower to put Aiko back to sleep again.

To him, all she had done was be adorable, be fed, go back to sleep and throw up on him. That’s all, but she’s still his precious first born daughter.

“‘Ko, let’s not wake mummy up,” Satoru softly murmurs, contrasting the erraticness of his daughter.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up,” Panicking, Satoru gently picks up Aiko — fitting her into the home of his arms.

Even as she harshly cried, Satoru couldn’t help but sit down within the fresh rocking chair. Within the rocking chair and placing her against his heartbeat, just so she would calm and be adjusted to his heartbeat.

After all, Satoru had consistently been doing skin-to-skin — paving a subtle path of familiarity for Aiko. If rendered exhausted, Satoru grew unwilling to care — prioritising you and Aiko’s beauty sleep over his own. As, to him, the two of you are the only perfect necessity to him.

You’re both angels, who deserve to be pampered effortlessly.

“Papa’s here now,” Satoru listens to Aiko begin to lighten, her tiny fist lazily propped against his peck.

Careful with his large hands, Satoru uses his free hand to comb through Aiko’s ivory and brown wisps of hair. Seeing her with his ivory hair warmed his eyes as she carried one of his rare characteristics, leaving a future thing for the two of them to bode over in the future.

“You look just like me, with a lot of mummy,” Treasuring the moment, Satoru slips into a smile, “Aiko Gojo, you’re just your daddy.” Tearing up, Satoru observes Aiko’s gentle cooing.

“Look how tiny you are,” In awe, Satoru’s heart is plentiful — completely adorned with everything he ever needs in life.

“Your first words will be papa!” Enthralled, Satoru’s enthusiastic shouts are followed up with Aiko throwing up milk on his chest.

“That’s what you get for scheming, Sato’,” Chuckling, you capture the blown kiss that Satoru gifts you.

“Now I get to spend a little less time with her and you,” Pouting, Satoru’s whiny point are soothed by an exhausted you — who groggily glimpses at him.

“If you get here in less than five minutes, we can cuddle!” Exhilarant, you propose your arrangement — only for Satoru to be gone before you could blink again.

Well, at least he had cleaned Aiko up and settled her comfortably down.

Satoru’s a good first time parent, even if there was still so much to learn.

What isn’t he good at?

#gojo satoru #jujutsu kaisen #jjk fluff #satoru gojo x y/n #satoru fluff #jujutsu satoru #satoru x you #gojou satoru x reader #jujutsu kaisen satoru #jjk fanfic #jujustu gojo #jjk gojo #gojo x reader #gojo x you #jjk satoru #satoru x reader #gojo father au #imagine #cosycafune

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megalony · 3 days

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Resemblance- Part 6

Thank you all for the amazing feedback on this Evan Buckley series, I hope you will all like this part.

As promised, I've included some fluff in this part for you all. Please let me know what you think.

@zoeybennett @mrspeacem1nusone @zephyrmonkey @estella-novella @eleventhdoctorsangel @kniselle @senjoritanana

@shauna-carsley @dottierose @cfdhouse51 @darkfemme1 @rainechase45 @ml572 @jessie-lynn28 @lolalolsstuff @jupiter1700 @ashdoctor @an-aliens-ghost @lunaroserites

Series Taglist: @lunaroserites @swanshells @moonlovers34 @bartkevicius03 @btskzfav @papafritarancia @shortchubbybibi @essienoe

Series Masterlist

Summary: When Evan introduces (Y/n) to Eddie, she resembles someone he used to know. And he can't help himself when he's around her, leading to frightening behaviour.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Violent tremors coursed through Evan's arms and down to his hands that were gripping the plastic frame at the end of the bed. His elbows and shoulders were locked tight while his chest was leant forwards, arching his lower back out with one leg straight and the other knee jutting forward.

He wanted to move. He didn't want to be stood at the end of the bed. He wanted to be at the side of the bed, (Y/n)'s hand locked in his while he crouched down so they were level.

He wanted to be stood at her side, trying to comfort her and make sure she was alright.

But Evan couldn't do that when two nurses and a doctor were flitting about the emergency room, bustling this way and that. The only place he could stand and be close to (Y/n) without being in the way was here, at the foot of the bed.

His head ticked to one side and his eyes followed the nurse's movements carefully.

One nurse was fiddling about putting a canula in (Y/n)'s hand to get her started on some fluids and a large dose of morphine, even though (Y/n) was still unconscious.

Evan had cleaned all the blood from her lips, chin and neck when her nosebleed finally stopped back in the apartment. He cleaned her up before the paramedics got there because he knew from experience that sat being caked in dried blood was not fun. And it was harder to clean when it dried.

But he could still see a few burnt orange streaks across her cheek that he had missed and it was bugging him.

His attention switched to the doctor and the second nurse who were getting ready to stitch (Y/n)'s leg back up. They had checked her veins and arteries, relieved none had been sliced and the bleeding had stopped due to Evan's belt around her thigh. They began swabbing and cleaning her thigh since (Y/n) was laid on her right side on the bed with her left leg tilted back towards them.

Evan hadn't expected (Y/n) to come back round yet, he thought she would stay unconscious, especially with the morphine that just got dosed into her veins. But he could see her twitching and a quiet mewl croaked past her lips as her head turned and twisted against the pillow.

He found the will to move and unlatch his fingers from the bed rail that should have been indented from the force Evan had when he gripped it.

He wove round behind the nurse until he was crouching beside the bed. If (Y/n) was waking up, Evan had to be within her sights. He had to show her that she was okay and make sure she knew she was safe and being looked after. She wouldn't want to be here thinking she was alone, she had to know that Evan hadn't left her. He would never leave her.

His arms folded over the side of the bed and he gently took (Y/n)'s right hand in his, not wanting to hold her left hand and risk moving or pulling on the canula the nurse had just taped into her vein.

He peppered a few kisses against her knuckles and reached his other hand across to slowly drag his fingers through her hair and brush it away from her temple.

"It's okay, sweetheart, you're okay."

A small slither of encouragement wormed into Evan's stomach when (Y/n) squeezed his hand. He continued to drag his fingers through her hair, darting his eyes between her face and her leg.

He could see her nose scrunching up and her lips twitching and parting every now and then as the doctor stitched up her leg. She had been given morphine and an anaesthetic injection in her leg, but she could clearly feel something, whether it was discomfort or just a light pinch, Evan wasn't sure.

He was glad when they finished that they wrapped (Y/n)'s thigh in a bandage. It would stop her from scratching it when she finally came around and stop the stitches from snagging on anything or coming loose.

A quiet murmur left (Y/n)'s lips and her arm jerked, her hand tightening around Evan's arm when she felt the nurses reaching out for her. She was finally coming back around properly.

"It's alright, you're in the hospital, sweetheart." Evan continued to hold her hand while he stood up and moved up near the top of the bed so the nurse could stand beside him.

Both nurses carefully twisted (Y/n) around until she was laid on her back. Her hand pulled on Evan's arm and her feet jolted and scraped into the bed.

Her eyes were trying to open but she couldn't quite keep them open, especially not when the bright lights shone down so powerfully it felt like she was staring into the centre of the sun.

"Is this yours?"

Evan looked away from (Y/n) to glance across at the nurse opposite him and he cringed when she held his belt out towards him. It was creased and had droplets of blood dried onto the leather.

"Yeah."

"Would you like it back?"

"…Not anymore." A shiver tore down his spine and he shook his head. He had other belts. He would buy another one if needed, but he didn't want that one back. Not when it was only going to serve as a reminder why it was stained and had creases and splits in the leather.

He began to smooth his thumb over the back of (Y/n)'s hand absentmindedly while she continued to try and wake herself up.

But he froze on the spot when she cried out. His dark blue eyes snapped down, darting up and down her frame before he realised what the nurses were trying to do.

One had a pair of scissors in her hand and the other had a fresh hospital gown ready. They were going to try and change her so they could get her onto a ward rather than keeping her down here in the emergency room.

When one of them scrunched up her shirt- which was really Evan's lounge shirt- and tried to lift it up and cut it, (Y/n) screamed. The material was already torn around her right hip, the gash was large enough that Evan could have fit his fist through the hole.

He hated the way (Y/n) yanked on his hand and coiled both her arms over her waist to try and keep the shirt on. He hated that her thighs pressed together and her knees shifted up near her stomach, trying to turn herself into an odd shape so no one could undress her.

And he hated how she screamed as her blurry eyes tried to open and look around but she was still dazed.

"No- no-"

"Baby, baby calm down you're alright-"

"Eddie s-stop!" Her words ended in a bubbling sob and her arms fought out in front of her, trying to hit them all away but she didn't have the strength or the energy to push them very far.

When Eddie's name passed her lips again and she tried to slap him, Evan couldn't fight off the tears in his eyes.

He hadn't been sure. He hadn't been certain what Eddie had tried to do tonight, partly because he had been on the other side of the door and partly because he didn't want to think that his best friend would ever do something like that. But there was no mistaking what Eddie had tried to do tonight if this was the reaction (Y/n) was having.

"Baby it's me. Shh, hey, hey it's me, you're safe, I promise. He can't hurt you." It tore Evan's heart to shreds to have to promise something like that. To promise that he wouldn't let his best friend try and attack his girlfriend again, but Evan would say and do whatever he had to if it calmed (Y/n) down.

"Evan,"

"It's me, it's me. You're safe."

Evan let go of her hand that was starting to squeeze and crush his knuckles but he was cautious when he tried to hover his hand near her jaw. He didn't want to touch her if it was going to frighten her or make her panic. He only moved his hand when (Y/n) tried to lean into the touch and when she deadlocked her fingers around his wrist.

His thumb brushed across her jaw and over her chin and he braced his other hand on the back of the bed when (Y/n) looped her other arm around his neck. A quiet "Christ." slipped passed his lips when she almost pulled him down on top of her.

She was finding strength from somewhere. She pinned his chest down against hers and Evan tucked his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent and pressing a tender kiss behind her ear.

"Let the nurses sort you out, baby, then we can get you on a ward, hm?" He kissed her neck another three times before he gently unravelled her arm from around his neck.

He straightened up and gently held her hands in front of her while the nurses cut off the shirt that Evan never wanted to see again. He never wanted to see that crisp white shirt, tainted with scuff marks, ripped seams, a large hole in one side and splattered with blood down the collar and the centre. The nurses could happily bin that shirt for all Evan cared.

Evan's thumb stroked across the back of (Y/n)'s hand, but the tender look on his face quickly morphed into something cold and callous when his eyes raked up and down (Y/n)'s body.

He couldn't help but let go of her hand so his fingertips could trail across her skin.

He ran the pad of his index finger along the marks on her wrists that he had studied during the ambulance ride down to the hospital.

He moved his hands to her shoulders, noting a bruise at the base of her neck. He leaned down to look further across her body. There were scratches and bruises forming over both hips. Deep jagged lines were dragged up her thighs with little bloodwheels and spots forming just beneath the surface of her skin.

Something had happened to her left ankle which he had noticed when they got her in the ambulance. The joint was discoloured and swollen.

And when Evan pulled her hands closer to his face for inspection, he could see blood stuck beneath her nails. She had scratched Eddie to get him off her; something which clearly hadn't worked out.

He stayed frozen to the spot while the nurses carefully eased (Y/n) up so she was sitting forward, making it easier for them to slide the gown over her arms. But they didn't get to tie it up at the back, not when Evan held a hand out to make them pause.

He traced his hand over the back of (Y/n)'s shoulders, softly brushing her hair over one shoulder so he could see her neck.

She had cuts in the shape of crescent moons on the back of her neck and in her hairline. Her shoulder blades and her back were tender from being slammed into the wall. Again.

"Oh baby," His head fell down and his lips smothered the back of (Y/n)'s head, gently tugging her into his chest as both arms curved around her frame. He felt her hands clutch at his forearm that was around her chest, clinging to him like he was her lifeline and she would fade out of existence without him.

Her head turned to the right and her face smothered into Evan's bicep as he began swaying them from side to side, both to keep her calm and to stop himself from exploding.

Words formed in Evan's head but fizzled out on his tongue when he felt (Y/n) go floppy in his arms. Her head pressed harder on his shoulder and she went limp against him, swaying forward until Evan braced himself and held her up.

She'd passed out.

His hand moved from her arm to cradle the back of her neck which was undoubtedly sore from the scratch marks and bruises she had acquired. And he slowly tilted her backwards, with the help of the nurse, until she was laid down on the bed again.

At least it would be easier to transfer her up onto a ward now she was asleep again. She wouldn't panic or scream or fight them to keep Evan by her side and when she woke up, Evan would make sure he was with her so she wouldn't have to be afraid.

He pressed a tender, searing kiss to her temple while he unlatched her hands from his arm and backed up.

He mumbled a quiet "One minute," to the nurse, not that they really cared that he was leaving the room. They had to do a few more checks, take some blood and get (Y/n) hooked onto the monitors before they found a ward to tranfer her to. There was time for Evan to step out for a while.

He ran his hands up and down his neck, through his hair that was crimping into curls from sweat and heat and utter panic. His elbows pointed out at the sides and he stretched his shoulders, trying to take deep breaths as he stepped out into the hall of the emergency room.

He wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Part of him wanted to call Maddie, he had to tell her what was going on and get her to come down here. He needed her to keep him in check and tell him what to do and comfort him.

He was seconds away from taking his phone out of his pocket when he looked down the hall and saw Bobby.

Bobby had gone in the second ambulance with Eddie, along with Athena because they needed to keep an eye on him.

The further Bobby dragged Eddie away from (Y/n), the louder he screamed and the more he writhed in his arms. He had been sobbing when Evan climbed into the ambulance with (Y/n) and it took all his willpower not to go over and slap Eddie. He had no right to be crying and calling out for his dead wife after going and attacking Evan's girlfriend like that.

He dropped his arms from his neck and rolled his shoulders before he headed down the hall. His steps shuffled across the polished floor and he barely picked his feet up, becoming more and more sluggish the closer he got to his Captain.

"Buck, how is she?"

Evan was getting more and more used to the look of panic and relief swirling around in Bobby's eyes. The amount of times Bobby had come to Evan's rescue or come to the hospital to see him and look after him, the relief in his eyes was almost second nature now.

And it was such a comfort to have Bobby wrap him up in a hug and take some of his weight for him. He let Evan drop against him and cling to him like he needed Bobby in order to breathe and just exist.

When they pulled back, Evan slid his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders up until Bobby reached out for his shoulders and gently gripped them until Evan relaxed again.

"Stitched up and passed out. They're gonna move her onto a ward, and get her some antibiotics since she aspirated back at the apartment."

Although (Y/n) hadn't aspirated a lot, she had still gotten some blood into her lungs and choked. They needed to give her some antibiotics to be safe in case she got an infection, that would the the cherry on top of the cake.

"I wouldn't say that's good, but it's a relief." Bobby couldn't say he was glad about that news, but it was relieving to know (Y/n) wasn't in such a bad state that she had to stay in the emergency room or go to the ICU. Going onto a ward was better, it meant she might not be in here for long and that she didn't have extensive injuries or problems.

"What about him? Is he still crying?" The cynical tone to Evan's voice matched the snide remark that fell past his lips before he could stop himself.

He watched Bobby arch a brow, not looking very amused, but he didn't make a remark. He could hardly chide Evan when he had every reason to be furious and irritated and cynical with and about Eddie.

"He's calming down. He doesn't need to be admitted onto a ward but they won't release him until his bloods come back clear and he's sobered up."

"Where is he?"

"Cubicle two, the nurse gave him something to calm him down. Buck, they're waiting for someone to come and give him an evaluation… they'll keep him on a seventy-two hour psyche hold if they have to."

The silence behind Bobby's words spoke volumes. There were so many different points hidden beneath his words.

If Eddie failed the evaluation and went on a psyche hold, he would be kept in the hospital against his will.

Evan would have to become Chris's guardian until Eddie was let back out again. Bobby would have to put this on Eddie's record down at the station and he would have to suspend Eddie from duty until the department could evaluate him for themselves and decide whether he was fit for duty or not.

This evaluation meant that Evan couldn't go into that room and aggravate Eddie. Winding him up or arguing with him would break Eddie even further and could send him into the state that got him detained here.

"Maybe that wouldn't be the worst thing."

Evan wasn't sure if he meant it. He knew Eddie would break down if he had to be detained at the hospital. He would feel like the world was turning against him. Like they were turning against him. He would worry about Chris, about his family, about work, about never being let out of here. He would fret about people calling him crazy and keeping him here for even longer.

But if he stayed in hospital, they might be able to do something. They might find a therapist or a psychologist for him to talk to. They could get him in touch with someone to help him or a program he could do. They could get him on meds. Staying here would show him how close to the edge he was and the consequences of his actions.

"Well let's see what they say." Bobby gave Evan's shoulder another squeeze before the pair of them turned when they heard approaching footsteps.

Athena stepped out of Eddie's cubicle, arms folded over her chest as she took a deep breath and leaned her head to one side. Her eyes immediately landed on Evan and she rose a brow when he walked over to her.

He didn't get close to the room before Athena's hand was on his chest and her other hand was on her hip.

"If you go in there, I don't want you starting a fight Buck, I mean it. I don't want to have to call for backup and escort you out of here." The last thing Athena wanted was to have to call dispatch and ask for police assistance down to the hospital. And she didn't want to ban Evan from the hospital when (Y/n) was here and she would undoubtedly need him more than ever right now.

"Have you arrested him?" Evan hated himself for the hope that sprung into his voice.

Did he want Eddie to be under arrest? Did the police arrest people who were awaiting a psyche evaluation? Athena said earlier that she didn't want to arrest anyone and she had come down off duty to see if she could help. Had she gone and arrested Eddie for his actions tonight?

She had seen the state of (Y/n). She saw (Y/n)'s torn clothes, the cuts and bruises on her body and how Eddie had clearly hurt her. And she knew Eddie had locked her in her own apartment and wouldn't let her leave. That was harassment. He had harassed and bullied (Y/n) tonight and Athena had more than one good reason to arrest Eddie if she wanted to.

She sighed and dropped both hands to run them up and down her thighs, trying to think what to say and what to do.

"No, I haven't, not yet anyway. He's under observation from the doctor, I'm staying as a curtesy in case he plays up. It's up to you and (Y/n) whether you want to press charges, once she's awake I'll need to talk to you both and see what you want to do."

Athena took the decision not to arrest Eddie. It was too much hassle telling security that he was now under arrest and informing the doctors. She couldn't take him down to the station to get processed and interviewed and subsequently let out on bail. She couldn't do any of that when Eddie had to stay here and get checked out.

And it would be a waste of time arresting him if (Y/n) and Evan decided they weren't going to press charges, and something told her they wouldn't. It would open a new can of worms for them all.

Athena didn't arrest him, but she also couldn't leave yet. She felt a duty to stay in case Eddie lashed out at anyone else or he had a breakdown or he tried to leave if he had to be detained. He wasn't safe to be on his own after what he'd done tonight.

She would stay with Eddie while she knew her husband was going to stay with Evan and (Y/n) until they were settled or until someone else came down to stay with them.

"I need to talk to him. I won't start anything, I promise, just let me talk to him?"

"Five minutes, and I'll be standing right here the whole time."

Evan had a feeling that meant Athena would be listening in on the conversation too. As if she suspected Evan was going to taunt Eddie or wind him up or break his sanity even further.

He wouldn't.

There was no strength left in Evan to fight, not now, not tonight after what he'd seen. He was past the stage of wanting to throttle Eddie, he was beyond shouting and screaming at him or pinning him to the wall. All of Evan's energy levels had been depleted.

He wanted to clear the air, give Eddie his marching orders and then go and lay with (Y/n) until the sun rose and the world righted itself.

He nodded at Athena, gave her shoulder a light squeeze and moved past her so he could enter the single cubicle on his right.

His sights immediately set on the bed where he presumed Eddie would be, but he was surprised to find Eddie sat in one of the hard back cushioned chairs meant for family and carers.

Eddie was sat with his elbows imbedded into his thighs, his head hung low and his hands tangled together behind his head. His back was arched forward in a way that must have given him back ache and his legs were jittering up and down with nervous energy and panic and adrenaline.

Everything that had faded out of Evan's system was now flooding Eddie's body instead.

He waited, hands clenching into fists at his sides, patient enough to wait for Eddie to lift his head and realise who had come into his room. He wondered whether Eddie knew that he was going to be evaluated soon, or if he had only been told that he needed to wait to be cleared by the doctor. Evan presumed Eddie didn't know. He wouldn't be this calm if he knew there was a possibility of him being locked up on a mental health ward.

The light faded out of Eddie's eyes that became more and more rabid and dangerous the longer he stared up at Evan.

His hands started to shake and he stood up from the chair at once, unsure whether to rush forward and grab Evan or whether to run out the room or just move about and release some energy. He settled for taking one step closer and stopping immediately when Evan stepped back. Distance was their ally. Close proximity was only going to provoke Evan into doing something he shouldn't.

Dried tear tracks were glistening upon Eddie's cheeks in the hospital light and fresh tears were building up in his chocolate orbs that were finally back to a sense of normality. He no longer had pupils blown wide or so constricted he could barely see a thing. He was no longer breathing in sharp inhales and gasping or screaming his wife's name.

He almost looked back to his usual self. The alcohol must be wearing out of his system and without (Y/n) in the room, reality was consuming him again. But for how much longer, Evan couldn't be sure.

"Buck-"

"Don't talk, just listen. I asked you to get help, I begged you to see Frank or find another therapist to work through this. I told you not to go near (Y/n) but you didn't listen. Now you don't have a choice."

If Evan didn't say this now, he might not find the time, the will or the nerve. He had to talk while the thoughts were fresh in his mind and while Eddie was in a subdued enough state to hear it.

Evan wasn't going to talk to him after tonight. He had to say what was on his mind and then that was it. He was going to distance himself as much as he could until Eddie had his life and his head sorted out. There was no way Evan was going to risk (Y/n)'s safety or her wellbeing by still being around Eddie, not after Eddie had broken everyone's trust tonight.

Eddie silently nodded his head, although he didn't understand what they were talking about or what this meant. And he dreaded to find out the answers.

"You'll find a therapist, a fucking good one, or you admit yourself onto a ward, you get help and take responsibility for what you've done. You get help, and you stay away from me and (Y/n). I want nothing to do with you until you've sorted your shit out."

"Okay."

He wouldn't argue. There was nothing Eddie could say when Evan's words were reasonable. They were more than reasonable.

He was handing Eddie a lifeline and Eddie would be an utter fool if he didn't take it. There was no other choice to be made, no other way Eddie could go. He had screwed the only meaningful friendship in his life. He had fucked things up between Evan and (Y/n). He had damaged (Y/n) when that was never his intention.

He had put his job and his life at risk all because he saw something he wanted and he was selfish enough to try and take it for himself. To take her for himself.

He could find help. He could talk to Bobby and ask if Bobby could help him find a therapist that would deal with this mess, this baggage, this tattered life Eddie had destroyed. He would go to meetings and counselling everyday. He would see a doctor every week if he had to, he would do what he needed to.

"And I… I think Chris should stay with me."

"What? Buck, no- no you can't!"

Panic pulsed through Eddie's veins with every throb of his heartbeat. Every beat his heart thundered out was felt under every inch of his skin and he could hear a drumbeat throbbing in his ears.

This couldn't be part of the deal. Chris couldn't be taken away from him. Eddie was about to lose every relationship he had, but he couldn't lose Chris too. That wasn't fair. That wasn't how this was supposed to go. He would never do anything to put his son in danger. He would never hurt Chris or put him in harms way and Evan knew that. He knew that everything Eddie did was for or because of Chris.

When Eddie stepped closer, Evan fought off the urge to step back and held his hand out both as a sign to make Eddie stop and to point at him like he was suddenly a child that needed strict authority in his life.

"You put me in the will. You made Chris my responsibility too and I don't think he's gonna be okay with you."

"He's my son-"

"If (Y/n) decides to press charges against you Eddie then you've already lost him! You didn't think about Chris at all when you broke into my flat and beat up my girlfriend. If you get charged, do you honestly think social services will let Chris stay with you? He'll come stay with me or be shipped off to Texas with your parents."

This wasn't a choice Evan made lightly and it wasn't something he wanted to do, but there was no other choice.

What else could he do?

How could he be sure Chris would be safe with Eddie when tonight Eddie had proved that he had no self control left?

Eddie let himself into Evan's apartment, knowing full-well that Evan wouldn't be there and (Y/n) would. He locked her in. He attacked her, he hurt her. He got so blindly drunk that he let all his reasonings go and did whatever he wanted because he couldn't stop himself.

Who's to say that he wouldn't walk out the house one night and leave Chris alone? He could get drunk and wander off or shout at Chris in a rampage. He could have a dream about Shannon and lash out and frighten Chris. If his son knew what he had done tonight, there was no way Chris would want to stay with Eddie or be around him.

Eddie had put Evan in his will for a reason. He knew Evan would do right by Chris and would always look out for him. Evan would look out for Chris whether Eddie was in peril, dead or alive. And right now, he had to look out for the boy he classed as his nephew. He had to look out for Chris now more than ever because Eddie wasn't in the right frame of mind to do that.

"You'll take my son away from me?"

"If I have to. You need help, you're sick Eddie and if Chris stays with me or your parents then you can focus on getting better and work your shit out."

A sob broke past Eddie's lips and his shoulders quaked and his hands tangled in his hair, pulling the roots so harshly he was going to tear them free from his scalp. He couldn't do this. He lost Shannon. He lost his second chance of having her back in his life and having a family with her again. He couldn't lose Chris too.

"You- you can't do this to me! Buck you can't!" Venom dripped from his words that he spat across the room before he turned and began to pace.

He only had room to pace three feet, going from the chair towards Evan and back again. This couldn't happen. He couldn't lose everything. Shannon was gone, (Y/n) wasn't his. Why was Evan trying to take everyone from him? Why was Evan after his wife and his son? Why was he so jealous and desperate to see Eddie suffer?

"You can't have them both-"

"I saw what you did to her, Eddie."

Evan was glad his words cut Eddie's ramblings because Evan couldn't control himself much longer. (Y/n) was his girlfriend, not Eddie's. She was his partner, not Eddie's dead wife and she never belonged to Eddie. He couldn't continue this delusion any longer.

He ran his hand down his face, scratching at his eyes that were tired and sore and desperate to shed a river of tears and then sleep for an eternity. He rubbed his chin and clicked his jaw into place, trying not to glare holes into the person he no longer recognised.

"What?" The confusion in Eddie's voice sent shivers running up and down Evan's spine. "The door broke, I- I didn't-"

"You sexually assaulted her."

For a dreaded moment, Evan thought Eddie had suffered a heart attack. The way his knees caved and how his body collapsed into the chair made him look like he had died on the spot. Evan felt his own heart give out five extra beats and a boatload of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

He watched Eddie's head loll back before he seemed to gain his composure once again. His hands dragged up and down his thighs, across his knees and a terrible bout of shaking set in his system and he rocked back and forth.

His head shook from side to side and he kept muttering "No," over and over. He thought it was his imagination. He thought it was the alcohol playing on his mind and messing with his memories.

Eddie didn't remember how he got to Evan's apartment, but he remembered locking the door. He remembered crashing to the floor at the bottom of the stairs. He knew (Y/n) had bitten into his hand that was now a dark shade of purple with red and black coloured indents from where her teeth had sunk down into his flesh.

He recalled grabbing her. Mixed voices telling him to stop. Asking what he was doing. Nails scratching down his skin. A hand striking his face. Fists bashing into his chest.

Then the horrible sound of glass shattering. Shannon laid on the floor, blood trickling down her nose. Shannon convulsing on the floor, aspirating on her own blood. Evan and the paramedics. Bobby pinning him to the floor so he couldn't follow her.

Everything was in pieces and they weren't in the right order. But Eddie hoped, prayed, begged God that he hadn't done anything that he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for.

"Eddie, I've seen the marks on her. What else do you call it when you kiss, bite, scratch and bruise someone against their will? When I found her in that bathroom her clothes were ripped and her fucking underwear was pulled down and you're telling me you didn't do it?! Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

Words rummaged round in Eddie's head and slathered on his tongue, but he couldn't say any of them.

What good would sorry do? How would telling Evan he felt like killing himself for this help? Apologies were never going to be enough. He could never earn (Y/n)'s forgiveness and he didn't deserve or want it. He could never rectify this with Evan and he didn't deserve that either.

He deserved to be punched. He wanted Evan to break his bones, throw him down. Make him bleed. Kill him if he wanted to. He wanted Evan to destroy him like he had destroyed everything and everyone around him.

His head fell down into his hands and horrible, bubbling sobs spat into his hands as he started to rock back and forth from his heels to his toes.

"This stops now. I won't let you terrorise her any more. If you dare try anything or you don't get help I'll make a statement to the police and I'll press charges and then you'll lose everything. You are never doing something like this again, do you hear me?"

When it looked like Eddie nodded, Evan left the room. He said what he needed to say. He had drilled it into Eddie's head that this was what was going to happen and he was getting help whether he wanted it or not.

His body was overcome with shakes when he stumbled out of the room and back into the hallway. He could see it in Athena and Bobby's eyes that they heard. They heard everything and he was sure they agreed with what he'd said.

"He's all yours."

Athena looked like she wanted to reach out for him but she didn't get chance when Evan started walking. He had to get back to (Y/n). She was his focus now and he had left her for long enough.

***

Evan wasn't sure what he was expecting. Well he was, and he wasn't.

A big part of his mind dreaded the thought of walking back into the apartment. He didn't want to walk in here because he didn't know how (Y/n) was going to react. He had no idea whether she would refuse to walk over the threshold, whether she would stand rooted to the spot in the hallway or start crying or back out or have a panic attack. All Evan expected was a bad reaction because how could there be anything else?

(Y/n) had only just moved in with him and already their home was tarnished with bad memories and their bathroom was now going to be the source of nightmares.

He couldn't see how she would ever feel safe being alone here or how she could go in that bathroom or look at the hallway or the kitchen in the same way again. Everywhere was haunted. And Evan didn't know what he could do to make things any better.

He expected the way (Y/n) shivered when they walked into the apartment. He expected how she stood three feet away from the bathroom, unable to look anywhere else.

But he also expected her to pull away or lose the ability to breathe or say that she didn't want to stay here.

Instead, she hung her bag on the hook and moved towards the bathroom rather than away from it. Her left leg dragged behind her as she hobbled rather than walked, since she refused crutches the hospital tried to give her. Both arms wrapped around her chest and her head tilted to one side as she stared into the bathroom.

"We need a new door." There was almost an air of humour in her words, but she couldn't find it in herself to look at Evan over her shoulder.

Her body sank back when she felt Evan's hands on her shoulders and his chin delicately perched on top of her head. She let her back lean into his chest, feeling each deep breath Evan took against her.

"I know. Bobby's coming over tomorrow to help me fit a new one." Evan had already found where he could get a new door from and it would be easy to join new hinges to the wall and fix a door in place. And Bobby had graciously agreed to help. He had been round this morning too and helped Evan clean away the broken glass and wood and dispose of the old door.

(Y/n) hummed quietly and took a moment to close her eyes. She had a feeling that for a while, she wasn't going to be spending a lot of time in there anyway. If she needed a bath or a shower, she would be asking Evan to accompany her. And she hoped to God that Evan had picked a wooden door this time or one with plastic in the frame rather than glass.

It would be tempting fate to have another door made of glass in the apartment.

"You okay?" There was a fever of questions hidden away in Evan's words and (Y/n) could feel them all seeping through his touch when he kissed her temple.

Did she feel okay? Did she really feel settled enough to stay here after what happened? Did she need a minute to process things? Was there anything Evan could do?

"Is it too early to go to bed?" She could feel him smiling against her hairline and his hands squeezed her shoulders before he moved them down to worm his arms around her waist instead. It may be four o'clock in the afternoon, but that didn't mean a thing to Evan. He was more than happy to go and lay down in bed with the tv on in the background. He was two days behind on sleep and he needed to recharge before he dropped.

"You read my mind."

(Y/n) dragged her left leg behind her as they made their way to the stairs. It almost felt like her leg was a piece fabric hanging on by one thread. Stitches in the back of her thigh down towards her knee. A bandage around her thigh to stop her from scratching or the stitches snagging on anything. And a support bandage on her heel and foot since her ankle had swollen up overnight and could barely support her leg.

Her hand reached out for the railing but before she could even grab it, Evan's hands were on her hips and he spun her sound so she was facing him with her back to the stairs.

He bent down in front of her so one hand could hold her right thigh and the other hand could hold the lower part of her left leg, not daring to go near her stitches and risk tearing them.

A smile fluttered across (Y/n)'s lips as she looped her arms around Evan's neck and let him lift her up onto his torso. Her legs hung loosely over his hips and she tucked her face into his neck, peppering soft kisses up and down his skin as he climbed up the stairs.

He was careful when his knees bumped into the bed and he slowly leaned forward until he could lower (Y/n) down onto the bed. Her legs unhooked from his waist but her arms stayed around his neck causing him to lean between her thighs with his hands planted down on the mattress on either side of her hips.

"How's your head?" He spoke against her lips, sucking her lower lip between his teeth while he tipped his head up a little to nudge their noses together.

He had expected her temple to swell up or for her eyes to bruise and close over atfer the nosebleed she suffered. But the only tender part was the bridge of (Y/n)'s nose and a striking pain in the centre of her temple if she tried to touch it. There was only a slight mark against her temple which was a relief considering how much she bled out the other night.

"Aching," She murmured when Evan released her lip that felt like it was swelling up from his touch.

"There's some painkillers in my jeans, baby. I'll go get us a drink." Evan tensed his elbows to keep his arms straight and put his strength into his back to stop (Y/n) from dragging him down with her.

A softness melted at his eyes and made his lips quiver like they were turning runny as he watched her with fondness in his pupils. She whined against his lips, kissing him again while she tried to pull him down with her, but he stayed steadfast. He wasn't going to lay on her and crush her beneath him and if he laid down, he might never get up again.

He pecked her lips once again before he pulled up while (Y/n) laid on her back with a huff and closed her eyes to try and ward off her headache.

When she opened her eyes and tilted her head up, she caught sight of Evan chucking his hoodie across the room, revealing his bare back and shoulders to her eyes before he disappeared downstairs.

Painkillers. (Y/n) needed whatever Evan had in his back pockets. She knew he always had strong painkillers lying around from the amount of injuries and headaches he got from work. He kept packets in the kitchen drawers, some in the bathroom cabinet, some in the keep and he always had a stash in his pockets. Evan had to have alternatives because although naproxen was strong, he was deathly allergic to it.

She slowly pushed up and used her hands to shuffle up onto unsteady feet, her eyes scanning around the floor for Evan's jeans. He must mean a pair he had been wearing in the last few days which he hadn't had time to toss into the hamper yet. And (Y/n) noticed a pair of dark blue jeans draped over the chair in the corner of the room.

Her left leg was throbbing from her heel right up to her hip and with how tight the bandage and support braces were, she felt every heartbeat that pulsed through her limb. Pain flowed and rushed through her blood and sent a headache burning behind her eyes.

She felt like she could sleep for a week, and she knew Evan felt the same. She wouldn't put past them both to be asleep before eight o'clock tonight rolled around.

She leaned over, keeping her weight balanced on her right leg while she lifted the jeans up so she could look through the back pockets.

Sure enough, she found a silver packet of codeine tucked away in the pocket, but just as she went to throw the jeans into the hamper, she paused. What was in his other pocket?

Evan was somewhat like a handyman when it came to how disorganised he was and all the random things he carried around with him. His ADHD meant he often displaced things or kept things in odd places. He could remember the exact location of his phone charger or a certain stapler he liked to use, but when it came to important documents, he could be useless.

"Did you find some?" Evan placed two mugs down on the side table before he shimmied out of his rather loose trousers, leaving him in his underwear. He still needed to scout round the wardrobe for his spare belt but he hadn't found the time yet.

His hands found his hips and his head ticked to the side when (Y/n) didn't answer. She dropped the jeans back down on the chair and slowly turned around, leaning to her right as she hobbled back towards the bed.

When Evan knelt up on the bed, (Y/n) sat down next to him and gingerly held her hand out to him.

"Babe… w-what's this?"

Panic bridled every one of Evan's senses when (Y/n) held out the small velvet box towards him which had been burning a hole in his pocket for over a week now.

He thought that was still safely tucked away in the jeep. Clearly he didn't take it out his pocket the other day like he thought he did.

This wasn't how the conversation was supposed to go. Evan had it planned. Before Eddie came into the apartment and wrecked everything, Evan had a plan. He would come home after that night shift, they would go out and then he would ask her later in the afternoon when they were back home.

The thought was planned in his head, but after the other night, Evan hadn't thought about the ring again. He didn't want to have this conversation now because everything was turned upside down.

He dropped his head down and dragged his fingers through his hair and across the back of his neck.

He reached out for her, opening the box with one hand while his other hand curled around her thigh and he inched closer until their knees were touching. He didn't want (Y/n) to find the ring. He didn't want her to see it without him down on one knee asking her in the proper way, or at least in his own fashion. And he didn't want her to see it now, not so soon after everything that had happened.

"I uh, I got it after Maddie's wedding… I would of asked you last week but Eddie kept ruining my moments." His free hand went back to dragging up and down his neck, scratching his nails against his skin to try and remain calm, but he was losing his composure due to all his panic.

"So it's… it's an engagement ring?" She felt so stupid for even asking, but (Y/n) had to be sure in case that wasn't what it was at all and she got the wrong end of the stick.

If this was just some sort of promise ring or eternity ring or maybe if it didn't belong to Evan at all and he was just looking after it for someone, then (Y/n) would make a fool of herself if she assumed what it was. But the look in Evan's eyes and the nod of his head confirmed her suspicions.

He had been planning to propose to her. If Eddie hadn't of barged his way in here two nights ago, (Y/n) might have been engaged by now. If Eddie hadn't of kissed her the other week when he came by, (Y/n) could of been engaged even sooner.

Evan wanted to marry her. Evan loved her enough to want to commit to her and spend his life with her.

Of course, (Y/n) already knew this. The bachelor party proved as much when Evan couldn't stop telling her in his drunken state that he was going to marry her someday. And clearly, Evan thought that someday was in the near future.

"Baby I- I get that you won't want to right now, fuck maybe never after all this. And that's okay-"

"How do you know that… you haven't asked me yet."

All the wind was knocked out of Evan's chest and his stomach pulled in until it looked like he had been flattened by a truck.

Was she being serious? She would still want to marry him after everything that had happened?

If Evan had been more self-aware and alert, he might have realised what Eddie had been up to sooner. If he pressed the matter at the wedding when he thought (Y/n) was anxious, she would of told him and he could have prevented all of this from happening. He could of gotten Eddie help sooner and saved (Y/n) the trauma of being attacked and injured and traumatised.

Things with Eddie were never going to be the same. The team was going to have a shift in the balance that might never right itself after this. Things might change between Evan and (Y/n). He was waiting for her to resent him or tell him she wanted to leave him to save herself any more pain and to preserve what tatters were left of Evan and Eddie's friendship. He wasn't expecting this kind of response.

"You- you'd still wanna marry me, after everything?"

"Ask me."

Whatever worries Evan had rattling around in his head and in his gut about (Y/n) saying this just to turn him down or teach him a lesson, all of them were squashed when he looked into her eyes.

He hooked his arm around her waist and pushed her back onto the bed, swallowing the gasp she let out and distantly hearing the ring box thud as it landed on the carpet.

He felt her hands cup the back of his neck, both to hold him to her and to steady them both. And when they parted, Evan rested his temple down against hers, looking into her eyes through hooded lashes that were about to brim over with tears.

"Marry me?"

"I'd love to."

#evan buckley #911 imagine #imagine #evan buckley x reader #evan buckley imagine #buck x reader #buck imagine #bobby nash #athena grant #eddie diaz #resemblance

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